Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan

ABSTRACT

Compositions comprising oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds are disclosed herein. Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds are produced by contacting poly alpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at least one N-oxoammonium salt.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/950,878 (filed Mar. 11, 2014), which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of poly alpha-1,3-glucan derivatives.Specifically, this invention pertains to oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucanand methods of preparation thereof.

BACKGROUND

Driven by a desire to find new structural polysaccharides usingenzymatic syntheses or genetic engineering of microorganisms or planthosts, researchers have discovered polysaccharides that arebiodegradable, and that can be made economically from renewableresource-based feedstocks. One such polysaccharide is polyalpha-1,3-glucan, a glucan polymer characterized by havingalpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages. This polymer has been isolated bycontacting an aqueous solution of sucrose with a glucosyltransferaseenzyme isolated from Streptococcus salivarius (Simpson et al.,Microbiology 141:1451-1460, 1995). Films prepared from polyalpha-1,3-glucan tolerate temperatures up to 150° C. and provide anadvantage over polymers obtained from beta-1,4-linked polysaccharides(Ogawa et al., Fiber Differentiation Methods 47:353-362, 1980).

U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,000 disclosed the preparation of a polysaccharidefiber comprising hexose units, wherein at least 50% of the hexose unitswithin the polymer were linked via alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages usingan S. salivarius gtfJ enzyme. This enzyme utilizes sucrose as asubstrate in a polymerization reaction producing poly alpha-1,3-glucanand fructose as end-products (Simpson et al., 1995). The disclosedpolymer formed a liquid crystalline solution when it was dissolved abovea critical concentration in a solvent or in a mixture comprising asolvent. From this solution continuous, strong, cotton-like fibers,highly suitable for use in textiles, were spun and used.

Kiho et al. (Carb. Res. 189:273-270, 1989) and Zhang et al. (Intl. Publ.No. CN1283633) disclosed producing the ether-derivatized polyalpha-1,3-glucan, carboxymethylglucan. Yui et al. (Int. J. Biol.Macromol. 14:87-96, 1992) and Ogawa et al. (Carb. Poly. 3:287-297, 1983)disclosed esterifying poly alpha-1,3-glucan to produce polyalpha-1,3-glucan triacetate.

Development of new poly alpha-1,3-glucan derivatives (e.g., oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan) and methods of preparing such derivatives isdesirable given their potential utility in various applications.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention concerns a composition comprising anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced by contacting polyalpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at least oneN-oxoammonium salt.

In another embodiment, the poly alpha-1,3-glucan contacted with at leastone N-oxoammonium salt has at least 90% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.The poly alpha-1,3-glucan in another embodiment has a weight-averagemolecular weight of at least 1000.

In another embodiment, the N-oxoammonium salt comprises a TEMPOoxoammonium salt. The N-oxoammonium salt can comprise a4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt in another embodiment.

In another embodiment, the aqueous conditions are acidic.

In another embodiment, the composition is a household product, personalcare product, industrial product, pharmaceutical product, or foodproduct. The composition is a detergent composition in anotherembodiment. A detergent composition is preferably a household product,for example.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns a method for producing anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound. This method comprises:contacting poly alpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at leastone N-oxoammonium salt, wherein the poly alpha-1,3-glucan is oxidized bythe N-oxoammonium salt thereby producing an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound. The oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundproduced by this method can optionally be isolated.

In another embodiment, the poly alpha-1,3-glucan contacted with at leastone N-oxoammonium salt has at least 90% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.The poly alpha-1,3-glucan in another embodiment has a weight-averagemolecular weight of at least 1000.

In another embodiment, the N-oxoammonium salt comprises a TEMPOoxoammonium salt. The N-oxoammonium salt can comprise a4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt in another embodiment of the method.

In another embodiment, the TEMPO oxoammonium salt is provided in themethod by oxidizing an agent comprising TEMPO under the aqueousconditions. The agent comprising TEMPO is 4-acetamido-TEMPO in anotherembodiment.

In another twelfth embodiment, the aqueous conditions of the method areacidic.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns a method of preparing anaqueous composition having increased builder and/or anti-redepositioncapacity. This method comprises: contacting an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound produced according to the present disclosurewith an aqueous composition, wherein the builder and/oranti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition is increased bythe oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound compared to the builderand/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition as itexisted before the contacting step.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns a method of treating amaterial. This method comprises: contacting a material with an aqueouscomposition comprising an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundproduced according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The disclosures of all patent and non-patent literature cited herein areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

As used herein, the term “invention” or “disclosed invention” is notmeant to be limiting, but applies generally to any of the inventionsdefined in the claims or described herein. These terms are usedinterchangeably herein.

The terms “poly alpha-1,3-glucan”, “alpha-1,3-glucan polymer” and“glucan polymer” are used interchangeably herein. Poly alpha-1,3-glucanis a polymer comprising glucose monomeric units linked together byglycosidic linkages, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidiclinkages are alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages. Poly alpha-1,3-glucan is atype of polysaccharide. The structure of poly alpha-1,3-glucan can beillustrated as follows:

This structure indicates that poly alpha-1,3-glucan has hydroxyl groupsat carbons 2, 4 and 6 of each monomeric unit. Carbons 2 and 4 representsecondary alcohol groups (R₁R₂CH—OH), while carbon 6 represents aprimary alcohol group (R—CH₂—OH).

The poly alpha-1,3-glucan that can be used for preparing oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein can be prepared using chemicalmethods. Alternatively, it can be prepared by extracting it from variousorganisms, such as fungi, that produce poly alpha-1,3-glucan.Alternatively still, poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be enzymatically producedfrom sucrose using one or more glucosyltransferase (gtf) enzymes (e.g.,gtfJ), such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,000, and U.S. PatentAppl. Publ. Nos. 2013/0244288, 2013/0244287 and 2014/0087431 (all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference), for example.

The terms “glucosyltransferase enzyme”, “gtf enzyme”, “gtf enzymecatalyst”, “gtf”, “glucansucrase” and the like are used interchangeablyherein. The activity of a gtf enzyme herein catalyzes the reaction ofthe substrate sucrose to make the products poly alpha-1,3-glucan andfructose. Other products (byproducts) of a gtf reaction can includeglucose (where glucose is hydrolyzed from the glucosyl-gtf enzymeintermediate complex), various soluble oligosaccharides (DP2-DP7), andleucrose (where glucose of the glucosyl-gtf enzyme intermediate complexis linked to fructose). Leucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucoseand fructose linked by an alpha-1,5 linkage. Wild type forms ofglucosyltransferase enzymes generally contain (in the N-terminal toC-terminal direction) a signal peptide, a variable domain, a catalyticdomain, and a glucan-binding domain. A gtf herein is classified underthe glycoside hydrolase family 70 (GH70) according to the CAZy(Carbohydrate-Active EnZymes) database (Cantarel et al., Nucleic AcidsRes. 37:D233-238, 2009).

The percentage of glycosidic linkages between the glucose monomer unitsof poly alpha-1,3-glucan used to prepare oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompounds herein that are alpha-1,3 is at least about 50%, 60%, 70%,80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% (or any integer value between50% and 100%). In such embodiments, accordingly, poly alpha-1,3-glucanhas less than about 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or 0%(or any integer value between 0% and 50%) of glycosidic linkages thatare not alpha-1,3.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan used to produce oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompounds herein is preferably linear/unbranched. In certainembodiments, poly alpha-1,3-glucan has no branch points or less thanabout 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% branch points as apercent of the glycosidic linkages in the polymer. Examples of branchpoints include alpha-1,6 branch points, such as those present in mutanpolymer.

The terms “glycosidic linkage” and “glycosidic bond” are usedinterchangeably herein and refer to the type of covalent bond that joinsa carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another group such as anothercarbohydrate. The term “alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkage” as used hereinrefers to the type of covalent bond that joins alpha-D-glucose moleculesto each other through carbons 1 and 3 on adjacent alpha-D-glucose rings.This linkage is illustrated in the poly alpha-1,3-glucan structureprovided above. Herein, “alpha-D-glucose” will be referred to as“glucose”.

The terms “oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound”, “oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan derivative”, “oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan” and thelike are used interchangeably herein. An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound herein is a compound resulting from oxidation of one or more ofthe hydroxyl groups at positions 2, 4 and/or 6 of poly alpha-1,3-glucan.This oxidation may independently convert each of these hydroxyl groupsto an aldehyde, ketone, or carboxylic group. Poly alpha-1,3-glucan canbe oxidized herein by contacting it with an N-oxoammonium salt underaqueous conditions, for example. It is believed that oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan as disclosed herein can also be prepared viaapplication of other oxidation processes, if desired, such as processesdisclosed in Canadian Patent Publ. Nos. 2028284 and 2038640, and U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,985,553, 2,894,945, 5,747,658 and 7,595,392, all of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

The term “oxidized” as used herein characterizes a compound, or atomwithin a compound, from which electrons have been removed. With regardto oxidation of poly alpha-1,3-glucan, since the position 6 carbon of amonomeric unit of poly alpha-1,3-glucan represents a primary alcohol(R—CH₂—OH), this carbon can be oxidized to an aldehyde (R—CHO) orcarboxylic acid (R—COOH). The carbons at positions 2 and 4 of amonomeric unit of poly alpha-1,3-glucan represent secondary alcohols(R₁R₂CH—OH) that can each independently be oxidized to a ketone(R₁R₂CH═OH). Alternatively, carbons 2 and 4 of poly alpha-1,3-glucan caneach independently be oxidized to aldehyde or carboxylic acid groups, inwhich case the monomeric ring unit of poly alpha-1,3-glucan is opened(i.e., no longer cyclic).

Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds disclosed herein are synthetic,man-made compounds.

The terms “N-oxoammonium salt” and “oxoammonium salt” are usedinterchangeably herein. An N-oxoammonium salt herein refers to thefollowing structure:

where R¹ and R² each represent the same or different organic groups(e.g., a linear or branched carbon chain), and X⁻ is a counterion.Alternatively, R¹ and R² can each be part of the same group bound to theN⁺, in which case N⁺ is part of a ring structure. An example herein ofan N-oxoammonium salt having a ring structure (i.e., a “cyclicN-oxoammonium salt”) is a TEMPO oxoammonium salt.

An “agent for oxidizing poly alpha-1,3-glucan” herein can comprise anN-oxoammonium salt.

The term “TEMPO oxoammonium salt” herein refers to the followingstructure:

where each Me represents a methyl group and X⁻ is a counterion. Anexample of an N-oxoammonium salt comprising TEMPO oxoammonium salt is4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt.

The terms “4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt” and “4-acimido-TEMPOoxoammonium salt” are used interchangeably herein. 4-acetamido-TEMPOoxoammonium salt herein refers to the following structure:

where each Me represents a methyl group and X⁻ is a counterion.

An “agent comprising TEMPO” herein refers to an agent/compoundcomprising 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO). TEMPO has thefollowing structure:

Examples of agents comprising TEMPO are TEMPO itself and4-acetamido-TEMPO. “4-acetamido-TEMPO” (alternatively referred to as“4-acimido-TEMPO”) has the following structure:

An agent comprising TEMPO can be oxidized to its correspondingN-oxoammonium salt. For example, TEMPO can be oxidized to TEMPOoxoammonium salt, and 4-acetamido-TEMPO can be oxidized to4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt. Thus, a “precursor of anN-oxoammonium salt” such as TEMPO or 4-acetamido-TEMPO, can be used toprovide an N-oxoammonium salt in an oxidation reaction as disclosedherein.

The terms “reaction”, “reaction preparation”, “reaction composition”,“oxidation reaction” and the like are used interchangeably herein andrefer to a reaction under aqueous conditions comprising at least polyalpha-1,3-glucan and an N-oxoammonium salt. A reaction preparation canbe either a mixture or solution, generally depending on the degree towhich poly alpha-1,3-glucan is dissolved while preparing a reaction. Forexample, a reaction can begin as a slurry, and become a solution as polyalpha-1,3-glucan becomes oxidized. A reaction is conducted undersuitable conditions (e.g., time, temperature, pH) for the N-oxoammoniumsalt to oxidize one or more hydroxyl groups of the glucose monomericunits of poly alpha-1,3-glucan, thereby yielding an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound.

The terms “aqueous conditions”, “aqueous reaction conditions”, “aqueoussetting”, “aqueous system” and the like are used interchangeably herein.Aqueous conditions herein refer to a solution or mixture in which thesolvent is at least about 60 wt % water, for example. An oxidationreaction herein can be performed under aqueous conditions. Aqueousconditions can be acidic.

The terms “acidic”, “acidic conditions”, “acidic aqueous conditions” andthe like are used interchangeably herein. Acidic conditions herein canrefer to a solution or mixture pH of 5.5 or less, for example. Acidicconditions can be prepared by any means known in the art, such as byadding acetic acid and/or an acetate salt to a solution or mixture.

The term “poly alpha-1,3-glucan slurry” herein refers to an aqueousmixture comprising the components of a glucosyltransferase enzymaticreaction such as poly alpha-1,3-glucan, sucrose, one or moreglucosyltransferase enzymes, glucose and fructose.

The term “poly alpha-1,3-glucan wet cake” herein refers to polyalpha-1,3-glucan that has been separated from a slurry and washed withwater or an aqueous solution. Poly alpha-1,3-glucan is not dried whenpreparing a wet cake.

The “molecular weight” of poly alpha-1,3-glucan and oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein can be represented as number-averagemolecular weight (M_(n)) or as weight-average molecular weight (M_(w)).Alternatively, molecular weight can be represented as Daltons,grams/mole, DPw (weight average degree of polymerization), or DPn(number average degree of polymerization). Various means are known inthe art for calculating these molecular weight measurements, such ashigh-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusionchromatography (SEC), or gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

The term “crosslink” herein refers to a chemical bond, atom, or group ofatoms that connects two adjacent atoms in one or more molecules. Itshould be understood that, in a composition comprising crosslinkedoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan, crosslinks can be between at least twooxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan molecules (i.e., intermolecularcrosslinks); there can also be intramolecular crosslinking. A“crosslinking agent” as used herein is an atom or compound that cancreate crosslinks.

An “aqueous composition” herein has a liquid component that comprises atleast about 10 wt % water, for example. Examples of aqueous compositionsinclude mixtures, solutions, dispersions (e.g., colloidal dispersions),suspensions and emulsions, for example. Aqueous compositions in certainembodiments comprise oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan that is (i)dissolved in the aqueous composition (i.e., in solution), or (ii) notdissolved in the aqueous composition (e.g., present as a colloidaldispersion).

As used herein, the term “colloidal dispersion” refers to aheterogeneous system having a dispersed phase and a dispersion medium,i.e., microscopically dispersed insoluble particles (e.g., some forms ofoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan herein) are suspended throughout anothersubstance (e.g., an aqueous composition such as water or aqueoussolution). An example of a colloidal dispersion herein is ahydrocolloid. All, or a portion of, the particles of a colloidaldispersion such as a hydrocolloid can comprise certain oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds of the present disclosure. The terms“dispersant” and “dispersion agent” are used interchangeably herein torefer to a material that promotes the formation and/or stabilization ofa dispersion.

The terms “hydrocolloid” and “hydrogel” are used interchangeably herein.A hydrocolloid refers to a colloid system in which water or an aqueoussolution is the dispersion medium.

The term “aqueous solution” herein refers to a solution in which thesolvent comprises water. An aqueous solution can serve as a dispersantin certain aspects herein. Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds incertain embodiments can be dissolved, dispersed, or mixed within anaqueous solution.

The term “viscosity” as used herein refers to the measure of the extentto which a fluid or an aqueous composition resists a force tending tocause it to flow. Various units of viscosity that can be used hereininclude centipoise (cPs) and Pascal-second (Pa·s). One poise is equal to0.100 kg·m⁻¹·s⁻¹, or 1 mPa·s. Thus, the terms “viscosity modifier” and“viscosity-modifying agent” as used herein refer to anything that canalter/modify the viscosity of a fluid or aqueous composition.

The term “shear thinning behavior” as used herein refers to a decreasein the viscosity of an aqueous composition as shear rate increases. Theterm “shear thickening behavior” as used herein refers to an increase inthe viscosity of an aqueous composition as shear rate increases. “Shearrate” herein refers to the rate at which a progressive shearingdeformation is applied to an aqueous composition. A shearing deformationcan be applied rotationally, for example.

The term “contacting” as used herein with respect to methods ofincreasing the builder capacity and/or anti-redeposition capacity of anaqueous composition refers to any action that results in bringingtogether an aqueous composition with at least one oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound as presently disclosed. Contacting can beperformed by any means known in the art, such as mixing, shaking, orhomogenization, for example.

The terms “fabric”, “textile”, “cloth” and the like are usedinterchangeably herein to refer to a woven material having a network ofnatural and/or artificial fibers. Such fibers can be in the form ofthread or yarn, for example.

A “fabric care composition” herein is any composition suitable fortreating fabric in some manner. Examples of such a composition includelaundry detergents and fabric softeners.

The terms “heavy duty detergent”, “all-purpose detergent” and the likeare used interchangeably herein to refer to a detergent useful forregular washing of white and colored textiles at any temperature. Theterms “low duty detergent”, “fine fabric detergent” and the like areused interchangeably herein to refer to a detergent useful for the careof delicate fabrics such as viscose, wool, silk, microfiber or otherfabric requiring special care. “Special care” can include conditions ofusing excess water, low agitation, and/or no bleach, for example.

A “detergent composition” herein typically comprises at least asurfactant (detergent compound) and/or a builder. A “surfactant” hereinrefers to a substance that tends to reduce the surface tension of aliquid in which the substance is dissolved. A surfactant may act as adetergent, wetting agent, emulsifier, foaming agent, and/or dispersant,for example.

The terms “builder”, “builder agent” and the like herein refer tocompositions such as oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan that, for example,can complex with hard water cations such as calcium and magnesiumcations. Such complex formation is believed to prevent the formation ofwater-insoluble salt(s) by the cation(s). While not intending to be heldto any particular theory, it is believed that oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan herein orchestrates builder activity through cationsequestration (chelation) or cation exchange. In the context of adetergent composition for cleaning applications, a builder added theretotypically can enhance or maintain the cleaning efficiency of asurfactant present in the detergent composition. The terms “buildercapacity”, “builder activity” and the like are used interchangeablyherein and refer to the ability of an aqueous composition to exhibitfeatures endowed by one or more builders (e.g., oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan) present in the aqueous composition.

The terms “anti-redeposition agent”, “anti-soil redeposition agent”,“anti-greying agent” and the like herein refer to agents that help keepsoils from redepositing onto clothing in laundry wash water after thesesoils have been removed, therefore preventing greying/discoloration oflaundry. Anti-redeposition agents can function by helping keep soildispersed in wash water and/or by blocking attachment of soil ontofabric surfaces.

An “oral care composition” herein is any composition suitable fortreating an soft or hard surface in the oral cavity such as dental(teeth) and/or gum surfaces.

The term “adsorption” herein refers to the adhesion of a compound (e.g.,oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan herein) to the surface of a material.

The terms “percent by volume”, “volume percent”, “vol %”, “v/v %” andthe like are used interchangeably herein. The percent by volume of asolute in a solution can be determined using the formula: [(volume ofsolute)/(volume of solution)]×100%.

The terms “percent by weight”, “weight percentage (wt %)”,“weight-weight percentage (% w/w)” and the like are used interchangeablyherein. Percent by weight refers to the percentage of a material on amass basis as it is comprised in a composition, mixture or solution.

The term “increased” as used herein can refer to a quantity or activitythat is at least about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%,12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 50%, 100%, or 200% morethan the quantity or activity for which the increased quantity oractivity is being compared. The terms “increased”, “elevated”,“enhanced”, “greater than”, “improved” and the like are usedinterchangeably herein.

The term “isolated” as used herein refers to material (e.g., oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan) that has been completely or partially purified.Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds of the present disclosure aresynthetic, man-made compounds. Such compounds are believed to not occurin nature.

Embodiments of the disclosed invention concern a composition comprisingan oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced by contacting polyalpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at least oneN-oxoammonium salt. Thus, oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan is disclosed.

It is believed that an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein isa compound resulting from oxidation of one or more of the hydroxylgroups at carbon positions 2, 4 and/or 6 of poly alpha-1,3-glucan. Thefollowing carbon position(s) of a monomeric unit of polyalpha-1,3-glucan may be oxidized in certain non-limiting examples: (i)only carbon 2; (ii) only carbon 4; (iii) only carbon 6; (iv) all carbons2, 4 and 6; (v) both carbons 2 and 4; (vi) both carbons 2 and 6; and(vii) both carbons 4 and 6. Such oxidation (e.g., any of oxidationexamples i-vii) may occur in all, or in at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%,80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% (or any integer between 60%and 100%), of the constituent monomeric units of the polyalpha-1,3-glucan.

It is believed that oxidation occurring at carbon position 6 of polyalpha-1,3-glucan herein converts the hydroxyl group to an aldehyde orcarboxylic group. Typically, enhanced oxidation conditions (e.g.,increased oxidation reaction time and/or amount of N-oxoammonium salt)may lead to conversion of the position 6 carbon to a carboxylic group,whereas weaker oxidation conditions may lead to conversion of theposition 6 carbon to an aldehyde group.

It is believed that oxidation occurring at carbon positions 2 and/or 4of poly alpha-1,3-glucan herein convert the hydroxyl group at either orboth of these positions to a ketone, aldehyde, or carboxylic group.Typically, enhanced oxidation conditions (e.g., increased oxidationreaction time and/or amount of N-oxoammonium salt) may lead toconversion of the position 2 and/or 4 carbons to a carboxylic group.Weaker oxidation conditions may lead to conversion of the position 2and/or 4 carbons to an aldehyde group or ketone group, which are bothless oxidized than a carboxylic group.

Oxidation of a carbon at position 2 or 4 of a monomeric ring unit ofpoly alpha-1,3-glucan to an aldehyde group or carboxylic acid groupwould open the monomeric ring (i.e., the monomeric unit is no longercyclic). Such ring opening would be attributable to breaking acarbon-carbon bond. Specifically, it is believed that oxidation ofcarbon 2 to an aldehyde or carboxylic group breaks the bond betweencarbons 1 and 2, or the bond between carbons 2 and 3, of a monomericunit of poly alpha-1,3-glucan. It is believed that oxidation of carbon 4to an aldehyde or carboxylic group breaks the bond between carbons 3 and4, or the bond between carbons 4 and 5, of a monomeric unit of polyalpha-1,3-glucan. Thus, oxidation of carbons at positions 2 and/or 4 ofpoly alpha-1,3-glucan to aldehyde and/or carboxylic groups may producean oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan product in which all or at least about50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% (or any integer between 50% and 100%) of theconstituent monomeric ring units of the poly alpha-1,3-glucan have beenopened. In general, opening of a certain percentage of monomeric ringunits only at carbon 2 or at carbon 4 (not both positions) would producean oxidized product with a molecular weight that is greater than themolecular weight of a product in which the same percentage of monomericring units are opened at both carbon positions 2 and 4.

An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound is produced herein, forexample, by contacting poly alpha-1,3-glucan with at least oneN-oxoammonium salt. In certain embodiments, the N-oxoammonium saltcomprises a TEMPO oxoammonium salt. Examples of such an N-oxoammoniumsalt include TEMPO oxoammonium salt itself (structure II) and4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt (structure III). Structure II iscomprised within structure III.

Noting that structures II and III are cyclic, an N-oxoammonium saltherein can be a “cyclic N-oxoammonium salt” (or “cyclic oxoammoniumsalt”). A cyclic N-oxoammonium salt herein can be represented by thefollowing structure:

where each Me represents a methyl group, X⁻ is a counterion, and R is ahydrogen (H), acetamido group (—NH—CO—CH₃), hydroxyl (—OH), amino(—NH₂), carboxyl (—COOH), methoxy (—OCH₃), cyano (—CN), oxo (═O),phosphonooxy [—O—PO(OH)₂], acetoxy (—O—CO—CH₃), benzoyloxy, acetamino,maleimido, or isothiocyanato group. It would be understood that where Rin structure VI is an H, the cyclic N-oxoammonium salt is TEMPOoxoammonium salt. Examples of structure VI in which R is a moiety otherthan an H represent TEMPO oxoammonium salt that is substituted at carbonposition 4 (where the N⁺ in structure VI is position 1 in the ring). Forexample, where R is an acetamido group, the cyclic N-oxoammonium salt ofstructure VI is 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt. Thus, for example,an N-oxoammonium salt herein can be TEMPO oxoammonium salt having asubstitution at carbon position 4 (where the N⁺ in the ring of the TEMPOoxoammonium salt is position 1).

A TEMPO oxoammonium salt can be provided in certain embodiments byoxidizing an agent comprising TEMPO in the aqueous conditions in whichthe TEMPO oxoammonium salt is contacted with poly alpha-1,3-glucan. Anagent comprising TEMPO is an agent/compound comprising structure IV.Examples of an agent comprising TEMPO is TEMPO itself (structure IV) and4-acetamido-TEMPO (structure V). Other examples of agents comprisingTEMPO can be represented by the following structure:

where each Me represents a methyl group and R is a hydrogen (H),acetamido group (—NH—CO—CH₃), hydroxyl (—OH), amino (—NH₂), carboxyl(—COOH), methoxy (—OCH₃), cyano (—CN), oxo (═O), phosphonooxy[—O—PO(OH)₂], acetoxy (—O—CO—CH₃), benzoyloxy, acetamino, maleimido, orisothiocyanato group. Each of these agents can be converted to itscorresponding oxoammonium salt, as represented by structure VI, bycontacting it with one or more oxidation agents under aqueousconditions. Thus, structure VI can also be considered as a precursor ofan N-oxoammonium salt. TEMPO and its derivatives, such as above (e.g.,4-acetamido-TEMPO), are examples of cyclic nitroxyl compounds. Thus, acyclic nitroxyl compound can be used to provide a TEMPO oxoammonium saltherein.

An agent comprising TEMPO can be oxidized under aqueous conditionsherein to its corresponding oxoammonium salt by contacting the agentwith one or more “oxidation agents” (or “oxidant”). This contacting canbe performed in the same aqueous conditions in which polyalpha-1,3-glucan is contacted with an N-oxoammonium salt. Typically, areaction herein for oxidizing poly alpha-1,3-glucan can initially beprepared to comprise, under aqueous conditions, at least polyalpha-1,3-glucan, an agent comprising TEMPO (e.g., structure VII), andone or more oxidation agents. The oxidation agent(s) can convert theagent comprising TEMPO to its corresponding oxoammonium salt (e.g.,structure VI), which in turn can oxidize the poly alpha-1,3-glucan.

Non-limiting examples of an oxidation agent include one or more“inorganic oxidation agents” (or “inorganic oxidant”). An inorganicagent herein is not an oxoammonium salt such as a TEMPO oxoammonium saltsince such compounds contain organic components (refer to structuresI-III, for example). Examples of oxidation agents that may be used toconvert an agent comprising TEMPO to its corresponding oxoammonium saltinclude one or more of a halite (e.g., a chlorite, such as sodiumchlorite [NaClO₂]) or a hypohalite (e.g., a hypochlorite, such as sodiumhypochlorite [NaClO]). Other examples of oxidation agents that may beused to convert an agent comprising TEMPO to its correspondingoxoammonium salt include one or more of a halide salt such as KCl, KBr,NaCl, NaBr, or NaI; a hypohalite such as NaOBr; metals such as Fe(III),Mn(II), Mn(III), or Cu(II); KMnO₄; Mn(OAc)₃; Mn₂O₃; MnO₂; Mn(NO₃)₂;MgCl₂; Mg(OAc)₂; Cu(NO₃)₂; iodobenzene diacetate [PhI(OAc)₂]; Ca(ClO)₂;t-BuOCl; CuCl—O₂; NaBrO₂; Cl₂; Br₂; and trichloroisocyanuric acid.

Aqueous conditions are used in reactions disclosed herein for oxidizingpoly alpha-1,3-glucan. Aqueous conditions herein refer to a solution ormixture in which the solvent is at least about 60 wt % water.Alternatively, aqueous conditions herein are at least about 65, 70, 75,80, 85, 90, or 95 wt % water (or any integer value between 60 and 95 wt%), for example. Aqueous conditions herein can comprise a buffer, suchas an acidic, neutral, or alkaline buffer, at a suitable concentrationand selected based on the pH range provided by the buffer. Examples ofbuffers include citric acid, acetic acid, KH₂PO₄, CHES and borate.

Aqueous conditions herein can be acidic, having a pH of 5.5 or less.Alternatively, the pH may be about 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, or5.5. Acidic conditions can be prepared by any means known in the art,such as by adding acetic acid and/or an acetate salt to a solution ormixture. For example, a sodium acetate buffer (acetate buffer) (pH 4-5)(e.g., 0.2-0.3 M solution) can provide acidic conditions.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be included in a reaction herein at about, orat least about, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10wt % of the reaction, for example. Poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be mixed ordissolved in aqueous conditions before or after an agent comprisingTEMPO and/or an oxidation agent (which converts the agent comprisingTEMPO to its corresponding oxoammonium salt) is added to the aqueousconditions. The oxidation agent in these particular embodiments can besodium chlorite and/or sodium hypochlorite, for example.

An agent comprising TEMPO, such as TEMPO and/or 4-acetamido-TEMPO, canbe included in a reaction herein at about, or at least about, 0.05,0.075, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, or 2 wt % of the reaction, for example.In certain embodiments, an agent comprising TEMPO can be added to areaction in which poly alpha-1,3-glucan has already been mixed ordissolved. Such addition may be made before, after, or at the time anoxidation agent is added to the reaction.

An oxidation agent such as sodium chlorite and/or sodium hypochloritecan be included in a reaction herein at about, or at least about, 0.1,0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wt % of the reaction, for example. Incertain embodiments, an oxidation agent(s) can be added to a reaction inwhich poly alpha-1,3-glucan has already been mixed or dissolved.

A reaction in certain embodiments may initially contain polyalpha-1,3-glucan, an agent comprising TEMPO (e.g., 4-acetamido-TEMPO),and one or two oxidation agents (e.g., sodium chlorite and/or sodiumhypochlorite) dissolved in a buffer solution (e.g., sodium acetatebuffer at a pH of about 4-5). Optionally, no additional components areincluded in preparing this particular reaction.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan that is oxidized to produce an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein may have at least about 50%, 60%, 70%,80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% (or any integer between 50%and 100%) glycosidic linkages that are alpha-1,3. In such embodiments,accordingly, the poly alpha-1,3-glucan has less than about 50%, 40%,30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or 0% (or any integer value between0% and 50%) of glycosidic linkages that are not alpha-1,3. Polyalpha-1,3-glucan in certain preferred embodiments for producing anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound has at least 90% alpha-1,3glycosidic linkages.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan that is oxidized to produce an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein preferably has a backbone that islinear/unbranched. In certain embodiments, the poly alpha-1,3-glucan hasno branch points or less than about 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%,or 1% branch points as a percent of the glycosidic linkages in thepolymer. Examples of branch points include alpha-1,6 branch points.

The molecular weight of poly alpha-1,3-glucan that is oxidized toproduce an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein can bemeasured as number-average molecular weight (M_(n)) or weight-averagemolecular weight (M_(w)). Alternatively, molecular weight can bemeasured in Daltons or grams/mole. It may also be useful to refer to theDP_(w) (weight average degree of polymerization) or DP_(n) (numberaverage degree of polymerization) of the poly alpha-1,3-glucan polymer.

The M_(n) or M_(w) of poly alpha-1,3-glucan that is oxidized to producean oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein may be at least about1000. Alternatively, the M_(n) or M_(w) can be at least about 1000 toabout 600000. Alternatively still, the M_(n) or M_(w) can be at leastabout 10000, 25000, 50000, 75000, 100000, 150000, 200000, 250000,300000, 350000, 400000, 450000, 500000, 550000, or 600000 (or anyinteger between 1000 and 600000), for example.

In certain embodiments, a composition comprising an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound can be an aqueous composition, with or withouta detectable amount of viscosity. It is believed that an aqueouscomposition comprising oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can, in someaspects, have a viscosity of about, or at least about, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15,20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 cPs (or any integer between 3 and 50 cPs).Examples of aqueous compositions herein include aqueous mixtures,colloidal dispersions (e.g., hydrocolloid), and aqueous solutions.

Viscosity can be measured with an aqueous composition herein at anytemperature between about 3° C. to about 110° C. (or any integer between3 and 110° C.). Alternatively, viscosity can be measured at atemperature between about 4° C. to 30° C., or about 20° C. to 25° C.,for example. Viscosity can be measured at atmospheric pressure (about760 torr) or any other higher or lower pressure.

The viscosity of an aqueous composition herein can be measured using aviscometer or rheometer, or using any other means known in the art. Theviscosity in such embodiments can be measured at a rotational shear rateof about 0.1 to 1000 rpm (revolutions per minute), for example. In otherexamples, viscosity can be measured at a rotational shear rate of about10, 60, 150, 250, or 600 rpm.

The pH of an aqueous composition herein can be between about 2.0 toabout 12.0, for example. Alternatively, pH can be about 2.0, 3.0, 4.0,5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0; or between 5.0 to about 12.0;or between about 4.0 and 8.0; or between about 5.0 and 8.0, for example.

An aqueous composition herein can comprise a solvent having at leastabout 10 wt % water. In other embodiments, a solvent is at least about20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 wt % water (or any integer valuebetween 10 and 100 wt %), for example.

An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein can be present in anaqueous composition at a wt % of about, or at least about, 0.01, 0.05,0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8,2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52,53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71,72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,or 90 wt %, for example.

An aqueous composition herein can comprise other components in additionto an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound. For example, an aqueouscomposition can comprise one or more salts such as a sodium salt (e.g.,NaCl, Na₂SO₄). Other non-limiting examples of salts include those having(i) an aluminum, ammonium, barium, calcium, chromium (II or III), copper(I or II), iron (II or III), hydrogen, lead (II), lithium, magnesium,manganese (II or III), mercury (I or II), potassium, silver, sodiumstrontium, tin (II or IV), or zinc cation, and (ii) an acetate, borate,bromate, bromide, carbonate, chlorate, chloride, chlorite, chromate,cyanamide, cyanide, dichromate, dihydrogen phosphate, ferricyanide,ferrocyanide, fluoride, hydrogen carbonate, hydrogen phosphate, hydrogensulfate, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulfite, hydride, hydroxide,hypochlorite, iodate, iodide, nitrate, nitride, nitrite, oxalate, oxide,perchlorate, permanganate, peroxide, phosphate, phosphide, phosphite,silicate, stannate, stannite, sulfate, sulfide, sulfite, tartrate, orthiocyanate anion. Thus, any salt having a cation from (i) above and ananion from (ii) above can be in an aqueous composition, for example. Asalt can be present in an aqueous composition herein at a wt % of about0.01 to about 10.00 (or any hundredth increment between 0.01 and 10.00),for example.

A composition comprising an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundherein can be non-aqueous (e.g., a dry composition). Examples of suchembodiments include powders, granules, microcapsules, flakes, or anyother form of particulate matter. Other examples include largercompositions such as pellets, bars, kernels, beads, tablets, sticks, orother agglomerates. A non-aqueous or dry composition herein typicallyhas less than 3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.1 wt % water comprised therein. Theamount of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan herein in a non-aqueous or drycomposition can be about, or at least about, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45,46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64,65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99,99.5, or 99.9 wt %, for example.

An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound comprised in certainembodiments as presently disclosed may be crosslinked. Any means knownin the art may be used to crosslink one or more oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds. Such crosslinks may be borate crosslinks,where the borate is from any boron-containing compound (e.g., boricacid, diborates, tetraborates [e.g., tetraborate decahydrate],pentaborates, polymeric compounds such as Polybor®, polymeric compoundsof boric acid, alkali borates), for example. Alternatively, crosslinkscan be provided with polyvalent metals such as titanium or zirconium.Titanium crosslinks may be provided, for example, using titaniumIV-containing compounds such as titanium ammonium lactate, titaniumtriethanolamine, titanium acetylacetonate, and polyhydroxy complexes oftitanium. Zirconium crosslinks can be provided using zirconiumIV-containing compounds such as zirconium lactate, zirconium carbonate,zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium triethanolamine, zirconiumdiisopropylamine lactate and polyhydroxy complexes of zirconium, forexample. Alternatively still, crosslinks can be provided using glyoxal,for example, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No.2008/0112907 which is incorporated herein by reference. Glyoxal can beapplied under acidic conditions (e.g., slightly acidic conditions suchas pH 5-6.5) in some aspects. Alternatively still, crosslinks can beprovided with any crosslinking agent described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,462,917, 4,464,270, 4,477,360 and 4,799,550, which are allincorporated herein by reference. A crosslinking agent (e.g., borate)may be present in an aqueous composition herein at a concentration ofabout 0.2% to 20 wt %, or about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, or 20 wt %, for example.

It is believed that an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound incertain embodiments can have a higher viscosity in an aqueouscomposition compared to its non-crosslinked counterpart. An aqueouscomposition (e.g., dispersion or aqueous solution) comprising acrosslinked oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein is believedto have a viscosity of at least about 25 cPs. Alternatively, such anaqueous composition can have a viscosity of at least about 25, 50, 75,100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 500, 750, or 1000 cPs (or any integerbetween 25 and 1000 cPs), for example.

An aqueous composition herein comprising a crosslinked oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound can be in the form of a personal care product,pharmaceutical product, food product, household product, or industrialproduct, for example. Examples of such products are disclosed below.

Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds disclosed herein may becrosslinked using any means known in the art. Such crosslinkage may bebetween the same oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds, or betweentwo or more different oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds. Also,crosslinkage may be intermolecular and/or intramolecular.

A crosslinked oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound can be prepared asfollows, for example. One or more oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompounds can be dissolved in water or an aqueous solution to prepare a0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 wt % solution of thecompound(s). Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound(s) can be dissolvedor mixed using any process known in the art, such as by increasingtemperature, manual mixing, and/or homogenization.

A crosslinking agent is next dissolved in the preparation containingoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound. The concentration of thecrosslinking agent in the resulting preparation can be about 0.2 to 20wt %, or about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,15, or 20 wt %, for example.

The pH of the preparation containing both a crosslinking agent(s) and anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound(s) can be adjusted to be alkali(e.g., pH of 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, or 10). Modification of pH can be done byany means known in the art, such as with a concentrated aqueous solutionof an alkali hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide. Dissolving acrosslinking agent in a preparation containing one or more oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds at an alkali pH results in crosslinking ofthe oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound(s).

A composition herein may optionally contain one or more active enzymes.Non-limiting examples of suitable enzymes include proteases, cellulases,hemicellulases, peroxidases, lipolytic enzymes (e.g., metallolipolyticenzymes), xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases (e.g.,arylesterase, polyesterase), perhydrolases, cutinases, pectinases,pectate lyases, mannanases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases (e.g.,choline oxidase), phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases,pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, beta-glucanases,arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, laccases,metalloproteinases, amadoriases, glucoamylases, arabinofuranosidases,phytases, isomerases, transferases and amylases. If an enzyme(s) isincluded, it may be comprised in a composition herein at about0.0001-0.1 wt % (e.g., 0.01-0.03 wt %) active enzyme (e.g., calculatedas pure enzyme protein), for example.

A cellulase herein can have endocellulase activity (EC 3.2.1.4),exocellulase activity (EC 3.2.1.91), or cellobiase activity (EC3.2.1.21). A cellulase herein is an “active cellulase” having activityunder suitable conditions for maintaining cellulase activity; it iswithin the skill of the art to determine such suitable conditions.Besides being able to degrade cellulose, a cellulase in certainembodiments can also degrade cellulose ether derivatives such ascarboxymethyl cellulose. Examples of cellulose ether derivatives whichare expected to not be stable to cellulase are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,012,053, 7,056,880, 6,579,840, 7,534,759 and 7,576,048.

A cellulase herein may be derived from any microbial source, such as abacteria or fungus. Chemically-modified cellulases or protein-engineeredmutant cellulases are included. Suitable cellulases include, but are notlimited to, cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas,Streptomyces, Trichoderma, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia and Acremonium.As other examples, a cellulase may be derived from Humicola insolens,Myceliophthora thermophila or Fusarium oxysporum; these and othercellulases are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,435,307, 5,648,263,5,691,178, 5,776,757 and 7,604,974, which are all incorporated herein byreference. Exemplary Trichoderma reesei cellulases are disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,689,297, 5,814,501, 5,324,649, and International PatentAppl. Publ. Nos. WO92/06221 and WO92/06165, all of which areincorporated herein by reference. Exemplary Bacillus cellulases aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,612, which is incorporated herein byreference. A cellulase, such as any of the foregoing, preferably is in amature form lacking an N-terminal signal peptide. Commercially availablecellulases useful herein include CELLUZYME® and CAREZYME® (NovozymesA/S); CLAZINASE® and PURADAX® HA (DuPont Industrial Biosciences), andKAC-500(B)®(Kao Corporation).

Alternatively, a cellulase herein may be produced by any means known inthe art, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,435,307, 5,776,757 and7,604,974, which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, acellulase may be produced recombinantly in a heterologous expressionsystem, such as a microbial or fungal heterologous expression system.Examples of heterologous expression systems include bacterial (e.g., E.coli, Bacillus sp.) and eukaryotic systems. Eukaryotic systems canemploy yeast (e.g., Pichia sp., Saccharomyces sp.) or fungal (e.g.,Trichoderma sp. such as T. reesei, Aspergillus species such as A. niger)expression systems, for example.

One or more cellulases can be directly added as an ingredient whenpreparing a composition disclosed herein. Alternatively, one or morecellulases can be indirectly (inadvertently) provided in the disclosedcomposition. For example, cellulase can be provided in a compositionherein by virtue of being present in a non-cellulase enzyme preparationused for preparing a composition. Cellulase in compositions in whichcellulase is indirectly provided thereto can be present at about 0.1-10ppb (e.g., less than 1 ppm), for example. A contemplated benefit of acomposition herein, by virtue of employing an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound instead of a cellulose-based compound, is thatnon-cellulase enzyme preparations that might have background cellulaseactivity can be used without concern that the desired effects of theoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound will be negated by thebackground cellulase activity.

A cellulase in certain embodiments can be thermostable. Cellulasethermostability refers to the ability of the enzyme to retain activityafter exposure to an elevated temperature (e.g. about 60-70° C.) for aperiod of time (e.g., about 30-60 minutes). The thermostability of acellulase can be measured by its half-life (t½) given in minutes, hours,or days, during which time period half the cellulase activity is lostunder defined conditions.

A cellulase in certain embodiments can be stable to a wide range of pHvalues (e.g. neutral or alkaline pH such as pH of ˜7.0 to ˜11.0). Suchenzymes can remain stable for a predetermined period of time (e.g., atleast about 15 min., 30 min., or 1 hour) under such pH conditions.

At least one, two, or more cellulases may be included in a compositionherein. The total amount of cellulase in a composition typically is anamount that is suitable for the purpose of using cellulase in thecomposition (an “effective amount”). For example, an effective amount ofcellulase in a composition intended for improving the feel and/orappearance of a cellulose-containing fabric is an amount that producesmeasurable improvements in the feel of the fabric (e.g., improvingfabric smoothness and/or appearance, removing pills and fibrils whichtend to reduce fabric appearance sharpness). As another example, aneffective amount of cellulase in a fabric stonewashing compositionherein is that amount which will provide the desired effect (e.g., toproduce a worn and faded look in seams and on fabric panels). The amountof cellulase in a composition herein can also depend on the processparameters in which the composition is employed (e.g., equipment,temperature, time, and the like) and cellulase activity, for example.The effective concentration of cellulase in an aqueous composition inwhich a fabric is treated can be readily determined by a skilledartisan. In fabric care processes, cellulase can be present in anaqueous composition (e.g., wash liquor) in which a fabric is treated ina concentration that is minimally about 0.01-0.1 ppm total cellulaseprotein, or about 0.1-10 ppb total cellulase protein (e.g., less than 1ppm), to maximally about 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000ppm total cellulase protein, for example.

Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein are mostly or completelystable (resistant) to being degraded by cellulase. For example, thepercent degradation of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound by oneor more cellulases is less than 10%, 9%, 8%, 7% 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or1%, or is 0%. Such percent degradation can be determined, for example,by comparing the molecular weight of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucanbefore and after treatment with a cellulase for a period of time (e.g.,˜24 hours).

Aqueous compositions in certain embodiments are believed to have eithershear thinning behavior or shear thickening behavior. Shear thinningbehavior is observed as a decrease in viscosity of the aqueouscomposition as shear rate increases, whereas shear thickening behavioris observed as an increase in viscosity of the aqueous composition asshear rate increases. Modification of the shear thinning behavior orshear thickening behavior of an aqueous composition herein is due to theadmixture of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound to the aqueouscomposition. Thus, one or more oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundsherein can be added to an aqueous composition to modify its rheologicalprofile (i.e., the flow properties of an aqueous liquid, solution, ormixture are modified) in some aspects. Also, one or more oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds can be added to an aqueous composition tomodify its viscosity in some aspects.

The rheological properties of aqueous compositions herein can beobserved by measuring viscosity over an increasing rotational shear rate(e.g., from about 0.1 rpm to about 1000 rpm). For example, shearthinning behavior of an aqueous composition can be observed as adecrease in viscosity (cPs) by at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%,30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%(or any integer between 5% and 95%) as the rotational shear rateincreases from about 10 rpm to 60 rpm, 10 rpm to 150 rpm, 10 rpm to 250rpm, 60 rpm to 150 rpm, 60 rpm to 250 rpm, or 150 rpm to 250 rpm. Asanother example, shear thickening behavior of an aqueous composition canbe observed as an increase in viscosity (cPs) by at least about 5%, 10%,15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%,85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 125%, 150%, 175%, or 200% (or any integer between5% and 200%) as the rotational shear rate increases from about 10 rpm to60 rpm, 10 rpm to 150 rpm, 10 rpm to 250 rpm, 60 rpm to 150 rpm, 60 rpmto 250 rpm, or 150 rpm to 250 rpm.

An aqueous composition disclosed herein can be in the form of, and/orcomprised in, a household product, personal care product, industrialproduct, pharmaceutical product, or food product, for example, such asany of those products described below. Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompounds herein can optionally be used as builder agents and/oranti-redeposition agents in one or more of these type of products—suchuse, which depends in part on the application of the product, can becontemplated by a skilled artisan, especially in view of some of theembodiments disclosed herein. In other embodiments, oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein are believed to have some use asthickening agents in one or more of these products. Such a thickeningagent may be used in conjunction with one or more other types ofthickening agents if desired, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,541,041, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Personal care products herein are not particularly limited and include,for example, skin care compositions, cosmetic compositions, antifungalcompositions, and antibacterial compositions. Personal care productsherein may be in the form of, for example, lotions, creams, pastes,balms, ointments, pomades, gels, liquids, combinations of these and thelike. The personal care products disclosed herein can include at leastone active ingredient, if desired. An active ingredient is generallyrecognized as an ingredient that causes an intended pharmacologicaleffect. A personal care product herein can be used in personal carecleaning applications in certain embodiments.

In certain embodiments, a skin care product can be applied to skin foraddressing skin damage related to a lack of moisture. A skin careproduct may also be used to address the visual appearance of skin (e.g.,reduce the appearance of flaky, cracked, and/or red skin) and/or thetactile feel of the skin (e.g., reduce roughness and/or dryness of theskin while improved the softness and subtleness of the skin). A skincare product typically may include at least one active ingredient forthe treatment or prevention of skin ailments, providing a cosmeticeffect, or for providing a moisturizing benefit to skin, such as zincoxide, petrolatum, white petrolatum, mineral oil, cod liver oil,lanolin, dimethicone, hard fat, vitamin A, allantoin, calamine, kaolin,glycerin, or colloidal oatmeal, and combinations of these. A skin careproduct may include one or more natural moisturizing factors such asceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, amino acids,cholesterol, fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids,glycosphingolipids, urea, linoleic acid, glycosaminoglycans,mucopolysaccharide, sodium lactate, or sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate,for example. Other ingredients that may be included in a skin careproduct include, without limitation, glycerides, apricot kernel oil,canola oil, squalane, squalene, coconut oil, corn oil, jojoba oil,jojoba wax, lecithin, olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, shea butter,soybean oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, tea tree oil, shea butter,palm oil, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, wax esters, fatty acids, andorange oil.

A personal care product herein can also be in the form of makeup,lipstick, mascara, rouge, foundation, blush, eyeliner, lip liner, lipgloss, other cosmetics, sunscreen, sun block, nail polish, nailconditioner, bath gel, shower gel, body wash, face wash, lip balm, skinconditioner, cold cream, moisturizer, body spray, soap, body scrub,exfoliant, astringent, scruffing lotion, depilatory, permanent wavingsolution, antidandruff formulation, antiperspirant composition,deodorant, shaving product, pre-shaving product, after-shaving product,cleanser, skin gel, rinse, dentifrice composition, toothpaste, ormouthwash, for example.

A personal care product in some aspects can be a hair care product.Examples of hair care products herein include shampoo, hair conditioner(leave-in or rinse-out), cream rinse, hair dye, hair coloring product,hair shine product, hair serum, hair anti-frizz product, hair split-endrepair product, mousse, hair spray, and styling gel. A hair care productcan be in the form of a liquid, paste, gel, solid, or powder in someembodiments. A hair care product as presently disclosed typicallycomprises one or more of the following ingredients, which are generallyused to formulate hair care products: anionic surfactants such aspolyoxyethylenelauryl ether sodium sulfate; cationic surfactants such asstearyltrimethylammonium chloride and/or distearyltrimethylammoniumchloride; nonionic surfactants such as glyceryl monostearate, sorbitanmonopalmitate and/or polyoxyethylenecetyl ether; wetting agents such aspropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, pyroglutamicacid salts, amino acids and/or trimethylglycine; hydrocarbons such asliquid paraffins, petrolatum, solid paraffins, squalane and/or olefinoligomers; higher alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and/or cetyl alcohol;superfatting agents; antidandruff agents; disinfectants;anti-inflammatory agents; crude drugs; water-soluble polymers such asmethylcellulose, hydroxycellulose and/or partially deacetylated chitin;antiseptics such as paraben; ultra-violet light absorbers; pearlingagents; pH adjustors; perfumes; and pigments.

A pharmaceutical product herein can be in the form of an emulsion,liquid, elixir, gel, suspension, solution, cream, or ointment, forexample. Also, a pharmaceutical product herein can be in the form of anyof the personal care products disclosed herein, such as an antibacterialor antifungal composition. A pharmaceutical product can further compriseone or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, and/orpharmaceutically acceptable salts. An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound disclosed herein can also be used in capsules, encapsulants,tablet coatings, and excipients for medicaments and drugs.

Non-limiting examples of food products herein include vegetable, meat,and soy patties; reformed seafood; reformed cheese sticks; cream soups;gravies and sauces; salad dressing; mayonnaise; onion rings; jams,jellies, and syrups; pie filling; potato products such as French friesand extruded fries; batters for fried foods, pancakes/waffles and cakes;pet foods; confectioneries (candy); beverages; frozen desserts; icecream; cultured dairy products such as cottage cheese, yogurt, cheeses,and sour creams; cake icing and glazes; whipped topping; leavened andunleavened baked goods; bars; and the like.

Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds disclosed herein can typicallybe used in a food product or any other ingestible material (e.g.,enteral pharmaceutical preparation) at a level of about 0.01-10 wt %,0.01-5 wt %, 0.1-3 wt %, 0.1-4 wt %, 0.1-5 wt %, or 0.1-10 wt %, forexample.

A household and/or industrial product herein can be in the form ofdrywall tape-joint compounds; mortars; grouts; cement plasters; sprayplasters; cement stucco; adhesives; pastes; wall/ceiling texturizers;binders and processing aids for tape casting, extrusion forming,injection molding and ceramics; spray adherents andsuspending/dispersing aids for pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers;fabric care products such as fabric softeners and laundry detergents;dishwashing detergents, hard surface cleaners; air fresheners; polymeremulsions; gels such as water-based gels; surfactant solutions; paintssuch as water-based paints; protective coatings; adhesives; sealants andcaulks; inks such as water-based ink; metal-working fluids; oremulsion-based metal cleaning fluids used in electroplating,phosphatizing, galvanizing and/or general metal cleaning operations, forexample. A household product or industrial product herein can be used incleaning applications in certain embodiments, and as such can becomprised in detergent compositions, for example.

Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds disclosed herein are believedto be useful for providing one or more of the following physicalproperties to a personal care product, pharmaceutical product, householdproduct, industrial product, or food product: thickening, freeze/thawstability, lubricity, moisture retention and release, texture,consistency, shape retention, emulsification, binding, suspension,dispersion, gelation, reduced mineral hardness, for example. Examples ofa concentration or amount of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundin a product can be any of the weight percentages provided above, forexample.

A food product herein can be in the form of a confectionery, forexample. A confectionary herein can contain one or more sugars (e.g.,sucrose, fructose, dextrose) for sweetening, or otherwise be sugar-free.

Examples of confectioneries herein include boiled sugars (hard boiledcandies [i.e., hard candy]), dragees, jelly candies, gums, licorice,chews, caramels, toffee, fudge, chewing gums, bubble gums, nougat, chewypastes, halawa, tablets, lozenges, icing, frosting, pudding, and gels(e.g., fruit gels, gelatin dessert). Other examples of confectioneriesinclude aerated confectioneries such as marshmallows, and bakedconfectioneries.

A confectionery herein can optionally be prepared with chocolate, in anyform (e.g., bars, candies, bonbons, truffles, lentils). A confectionarycan be coated with chocolate, sugar-coated, candied, glazed, and/orfilm-coated, for example. Film-coating processes typically compriseapplying to the surface of a confectionery a film-forming liquidcomposition which becomes, after drying, a protective film. Thisfilm-coating serves, for example, to protect the active principlescontained in the confectionery; to protect the confectionery itself frommoisture, shocks, and/or friability; and/or to confer the confectioneryattractive visual properties (e.g., shine, uniform color, smoothsurface).

In certain embodiments, a confectionery can be filled with a fillingthat is liquid, pasty, solid, or powdered. An oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein can be comprised in such a filling, inwhich case the compound is optionally also included in the confectionerycomponent being filled.

A confectionery herein is optionally sugar-free, comprising no sugar andtypically instead having one or more artificial and/or non-sugarsweeteners (optionally non-caloric) (e.g., aspartame, saccharin, STEVIA,SUCRALOSE). A sugar-free confectionery in certain embodiments cancomprise one or more polyols (e.g., erythritol, glycerol, lactitol,mannitol, maltitol, xylitol), soluble fibers, and/or proteins in placeof sugar.

A food product herein can be in the form of a pet food, for example. Apet food herein can be a food for a domesticated animal such as a dog orcat (or any other companion animal), for example. A pet food in certainembodiments provides to a domestic animal one or more of the following:necessary dietary requirements, treats (e.g., dog biscuits), foodsupplements. Examples of pet food include dry pet food (e.g., kernels,kibbles), semi-moist compositions, wet pet food (e.g., canned pet food),or any combination thereof. Wet pet food typically has a moisturecontent over 65%. Semi-moist pet food typically has a moisture contentof 20-65% and can include humectants such as propylene glycol, potassiumsorbate, and ingredients that prevent microbial growth (bacteria andmold). Dry pet food typically has a moisture content less than 20% andits processing usually includes extruding, drying and/or baking. A petfood can optionally be in the form of a gravy, yogurt, powder,suspension, chew, or treat (e.g., biscuits); all these compositions canalso be used as pet food supplements, if desired. Pet treats can besemi-moist chewable treats; dry treats; chewable bones; baked, extrudedor stamped treats; or confection treats, for example. Examples of petfood compositions/formulations in which an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein can be added include those disclosed inU.S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2013/0280352 and 2010/0159103, and U.S.Pat. No. 6,977,084, which are all incorporated herein by reference.

Compositions disclosed herein can be in the form of a fabric carecomposition. A fabric care composition herein can be used for hand wash,machine wash and/or other purposes such as soaking and/or pretreatmentof fabrics, for example. A fabric care composition may take the form of,for example, a laundry detergent; fabric conditioner; any wash-, rinse-,or dryer-added product; unit dose or spray. Fabric care compositions ina liquid form may be in the form of an aqueous composition as disclosedherein. In other aspects, a fabric care composition can be in a dry formsuch as a granular detergent or dryer-added fabric softener sheet. Othernon-limiting examples of fabric care compositions herein include:granular or powder-form all-purpose or heavy-duty washing agents;liquid, gel or paste-form all-purpose or heavy-duty washing agents;liquid or dry fine-fabric (e.g. delicates) detergents; cleaningauxiliaries such as bleach additives, “stain-stick”, or pre-treatments;substrate-laden products such as dry and wetted wipes, pads, or sponges;sprays and mists.

A detergent composition herein may be in any useful form, e.g., aspowders, granules, pastes, bars, unit dose, or liquid. A liquiddetergent may be aqueous, typically containing up to about 70 wt % ofwater and 0 wt % to about 30 wt % of organic solvent. It may also be inthe form of a compact gel type containing only about 30 wt % water.

A detergent composition herein typically comprises one or moresurfactants, wherein the surfactant is selected from nonionicsurfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, ampholyticsurfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, semi-polar nonionic surfactantsand mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present ata level of from about 0.1% to about 60%, while in alternativeembodiments the level is from about 1% to about 50%, while in stillfurther embodiments the level is from about 5% to about 40%, by weightof the detergent composition. A detergent will usually contain 0 wt % toabout 50 wt % of an anionic surfactant such as linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), alpha-olefinsulfonate (AOS), alkyl sulfate(fatty alcohol sulfate) (AS), alcohol ethoxysulfate (AEOS or AES),secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters,alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, or soap. In addition, a detergentcomposition may optionally contain 0 wt % to about 40 wt % of a nonionicsurfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate (AEO or AE), carboxylated alcoholethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglycoside,alkyldimethylamineoxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide, fattyacid monoethanolamide, or polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide (asdescribed for example in WO92/06154, which is incorporated herein byreference).

A detergent composition herein typically comprises one or more detergentbuilders or builder systems. One or more oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompounds can be included as a builder, for example. In some aspects,oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be included as a co-builder, in whichit is used together with one or more additional builders such as anydisclosed herein. In some embodiments incorporating at least onebuilder, the cleaning compositions comprise at least about 1%, fromabout 3% to about 60%, or even from about 5% to about 40%, builder byweight of the composition. Builders (in addition to oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan) include, but are not limited to, alkali metal,ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates, alkali metalsilicates, alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates, aluminosilicates,polycarboxylate compounds, ether hydroxypolycarboxylates, copolymers ofmaleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene-2,4,6-trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid,various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts ofpolyacetic acids such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid andnitrilotriacetic acid, as well as polycarboxylates such as melliticacid, succinic acid, citric acid, oxydisuccinic acid, polymaleic acid,benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, andsoluble salts thereof. Indeed, it is contemplated that any suitablebuilder will find use in various embodiments of the present invention.Additional examples of a detergent builder or complexing agent includezeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, citrate,nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTMPA), alkyl- or alkenylsuccinicacid, soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst).

In some embodiments, builders form water-soluble hardness ion complexes(e.g., sequestering builders), such as citrates and polyphosphates(e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium tripolyphospate hexahydrate,potassium tripolyphosphate, and mixed sodium and potassiumtripolyphosphate, etc.). It is contemplated that any suitable builderwill find use in the present invention, including those known in the art(See, e.g., EP2100949).

In some embodiments, suitable builders can include phosphate buildersand non-phosphate builders. In some embodiments, a builder is aphosphate builder. In some embodiments, a builder is a non-phosphatebuilder. A builder can be used in a level of from 0.1% to 80%, or from5% to 60%, or from 10% to 50%, by weight of the composition. In someembodiments, the product comprises a mixture of phosphate andnon-phosphate builders. Suitable phosphate builders includemono-phosphates, di-phosphates, tri-polyphosphates oroligomeric-polyphosphates, including the alkali metal salts of thesecompounds, including the sodium salts. In some embodiments, a buildercan be sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Additionally, the composition cancomprise carbonate and/or citrate, preferably citrate that helps toachieve a neutral pH composition. Other suitable non-phosphate buildersinclude homopolymers and copolymers of polycarboxylic acids and theirpartially or completely neutralized salts, monomeric polycarboxylicacids and hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts. In some embodiments,salts of the above mentioned compounds include ammonium and/or alkalimetal salts, i.e., lithium, sodium, and potassium salts, includingsodium salts. Suitable polycarboxylic acids include acyclic, alicyclic,hetero-cyclic and aromatic carboxylic acids, wherein in someembodiments, they can contain at least two carboxyl groups which are ineach case separated from one another by, in some instances, no more thantwo carbon atoms.

A detergent composition herein can comprise at least one chelatingagent. Suitable chelating agents include, but are not limited to copper,iron and/or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. Inembodiments in which at least one chelating agent is used, thecomposition comprises from about 0.1% to about 15%, or even from about3.0% to about 10%, chelating agent by weight of the composition.

A detergent composition herein can comprise at least one deposition aid.Suitable deposition aids include, but are not limited to, polyethyleneglycol, polypropylene glycol, polycarboxylate, soil release polymerssuch as polytelephthalic acid, clays such as kaolinite, montmorillonite,atapulgite, illite, bentonite, halloysite, and mixtures thereof.

A detergent composition herein can comprise one or more dye transferinhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agentsinclude, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers,polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone andN-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles ormixtures thereof. Additional dye transfer inhibiting agents includemanganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers,polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone andN-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles and/ormixtures thereof; chelating agents examples of which includeethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA); diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP); hydroxy-ethane diphosphonic acid(HEDP); ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS); methyl glycinediacetic acid (MGDA); diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA);propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDT A); 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide(HPNO); or methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA); glutamic acidN,N-diacetic acid (N,N-dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid tetrasodium salt(GLDA); nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA); 4,5-dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonicacid; citric acid and any salts thereof; N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaaceticacid (TTNA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA),dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP)and derivatives thereof, which can be used alone or in combination withany of the above. In embodiments in which at least one dye transferinhibiting agent is used, a composition herein may comprise from about0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5%, or even from about0.1% to about 3%, by weight of the composition.

A detergent composition herein can comprise silicates. In some of theseembodiments, sodium silicates (e.g., sodium disilicate, sodiummetasilicate, and/or crystalline phyllosilicates) find use. In someembodiments, silicates are present at a level of from about 1% to about20% by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, silicates arepresent at a level of from about 5% to about 15% by weight of thecomposition.

A detergent composition herein can comprise dispersants. Suitablewater-soluble organic materials include, but are not limited to thehomo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylicacid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each otherby not more than two carbon atoms.

A detergent composition herein may additionally comprise one or moreenzymes. Examples of enzymes include proteases, cellulases,hemicellulases, peroxidases, lipolytic enzymes (e.g., metallolipolyticenzymes), xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases (e.g.,arylesterase, polyesterase), perhydrolases, cutinases, pectinases,pectate lyases, mannanases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases (e.g.,choline oxidase, phenoloxidase), phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases,ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases,beta-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases,laccases, metalloproteinases, amadoriases, glucoamylases,alpha-amylases, beta-amylases, galactosidases, galactanases, catalases,carageenases, hyaluronidases, keratinases, lactases, ligninases,peroxidases, phosphatases, polygalacturonases, pullulanases,rhamnogalactouronases, tannases, transglutaminases, xyloglucanases,xylosidases, metalloproteases, arabinofuranosidases, phytases,isomerases, transferases and/or amylases in any combination.

Any cellulase disclosed above is contemplated for use in the discloseddetergent compositions. Suitable cellulases include, but are not limitedto Humicola insolens cellulases (See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307).Exemplary cellulases contemplated for use herein are those having colorcare benefit for a textile. Examples of cellulases that provide a colorcare benefit are disclosed in EP0495257, EP0531372, EP531315,WO96/11262, WO96/29397, WO94/07998; WO98/12307; WO95/24471, WO98/08940,and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,046, 5,686,593 and 5,763,254, all of which areincorporated herein by reference. Examples of commercially availablecellulases useful in a detergent include CELLUSOFT®, CELLUCLEAN®,CELLUZYME®, and CAREZYME® (Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S);CLAZINASE®, PURADAX HA®, and REVITALENZ™ (DuPont IndustrialBiosciences); BIOTOUCH® (AB Enzymes); and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).Additional cellulases are disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,595,182,U.S. Pat. No. 8,569,033, U.S. Pat. No. 7,138,263, U.S. Pat. No.3,844,890, U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, andGB2095275.

In some embodiments, a detergent composition can comprise one or moreenzymes (e.g., any disclosed herein), each at a level from about0.00001% to about 10% by weight of the composition and the balance ofcleaning adjunct materials by weight of composition. In some otherembodiments, a detergent composition can also comprise each enzyme at alevel of about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5%, by weight of thecomposition.

Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbialorigin. In some embodiments, microbial proteases are used. In someembodiments, chemically or genetically modified mutants are included. Insome embodiments, the protease is a serine protease, preferably analkaline microbial protease or a trypsin-like protease. Examples ofalkaline proteases include subtilisins, especially those derived fromBacillus (e.g., subtilisin, lentus, amyloliquefaciens, subtilisinCarlsberg, subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168).Additional examples include those mutant proteases described in U.S.Pat. Nos. RE34,606, 5,955,340, 5,700,676, 6,312,936 and 6,482,628, allof which are incorporated herein by reference. Additional proteaseexamples include, but are not limited to, trypsin (e.g., of porcine orbovine origin), and the Fusarium protease described in WO89/06270. Insome embodiments, commercially available protease enzymes include, butare not limited to, MAXATASE®, MAXACAL™, MAXAPEM™, OPTICLEAN®,OPTIMASE®, PROPERASE®, PURAFECT®, PURAFECT® OXP, PURAMAX™, EXCELLASE™,PREFERENZ™ proteases (e.g. P100, P110, P280), EFFECTENZ™ proteases (e.g.P1000, P1050, P2000), EXCELLENZ™ proteases (e.g. P1000), ULTIMASE®, andPURAFAST™ (Genencor); ALCALASE®, SAVINASE®, PRIMASE®, DURAZYM™,POLARZYME®, OVOZYME®, KANNASE®, LIQUANASE®, NEUTRASE®, RELASE® andESPERASE® (Novozymes); BLAP™ and BLAP™ variants (HenkelKommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Duesseldorf, Germany), and KAP (B.alkalophilus subtilisin; Kao Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Various proteases aredescribed in WO95/23221, WO92/21760, WO09/149200, WO09/149144,WO09/149145, WO11/072099, WO10/056640, WO10/056653, WO11/140364,WO12/151534, U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2008/0090747, and U.S. Pat. Nos.5,801,039, 5,340,735, 5,500,364, 5,855,625, RE34,606, 5,955,340,5,700,676, 6,312,936, 6,482,628, 8,530,219, and various other patents.In some further embodiments, neutral metalloproteases find use in thepresent invention, including but not limited to, the neutralmetalloproteases described in WO1999014341, WO1999033960, WO1999014342,WO1999034003, WO2007044993, WO2009058303 and WO2009058661, all of whichare incorporated herein by reference. Exemplary metalloproteases includenprE, the recombinant form of neutral metalloprotease expressed inBacillus subtilis (See e.g., WO07/044993), and PMN, the purified neutralmetalloprotease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Suitable mannanases include, but are not limited to, those of bacterialor fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants areincluded in some embodiments. Various mannanases are known which finduse in the present invention (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,566,114,6,602,842, and 6,440,991, all of which are incorporated herein byreference). Commercially available mannanases that find use in thepresent invention include, but are not limited to MANNASTAR®,PURABRITE™, and MANNAWAY®.

Suitable lipases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemicallymodified, proteolytically modified, or protein engineered mutants areincluded. Examples of useful lipases include those from the generaHumicola (e.g., H. lanuginosa, EP258068 and EP305216; H. insolens,WO96/13580), Pseudomonas (e.g., P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes,EP218272; P. cepacia, EP331376; P. stutzeri, GB1372034; P. fluorescensand Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705, WO95/06720 and WO96/27002; P.wisconsinensis, WO96/12012); and Bacillus (e.g., B. subtilis, Dartois etal., Biochemica et Biophysica Acta 1131:253-360; B. stearothermophilus,JP64/744992; B. pumilus, WO91/16422). Furthermore, a number of clonedlipases find use in some embodiments of the present invention, includingbut not limited to, Penicillium camembertii lipase (See, Yamaguchi etal., Gene 103:61-67 [1991]), Geotricum candidum lipase (See, Schimada etal., J. Biochem., 106:383-388 [1989]), and various Rhizopus lipases suchas R. delemar lipase (See, Hass et al., Gene 109:117-113 [1991]), a R.niveus lipase (Kugimiya et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 56:716-719[1992]) and R. oryzae lipase. Additional lipases useful herein include,for example, those disclosed in WO92/05249, WO94/01541, WO95/35381,WO96/00292, WO95/30744, WO94/25578, WO95/14783, WO95/22615, WO97/04079,WO97/07202, EP407225 and EP260105. Other types of lipase polypeptideenzymes such as cutinases also find use in some embodiments of thepresent invention, including but not limited to, cutinase derived fromPseudomonas mendocina (See, WO88/09367), and cutinase derived fromFusarium solani pisi (See, WO90/09446). Examples of certain commerciallyavailable lipase enzymes useful herein include M1 LIPASE™, LUMA FAST™,and LIPOMAX™ (Genencor); LIPEX®, LIPOLASE® and LIPOLASE® ULTRA(Novozymes); and LIPASE P™ “Amano” (Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.,Japan).

Suitable polyesterases include, for example, those disclosed inWO01/34899, WO01/14629 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,140.

A detergent composition herein can also comprise 2,6-beta-D-fructanhydrolase, which is effective for removal/cleaning of certain biofilmspresent on household and/or industrial textiles/laundry.

Suitable amylases include, but are not limited to those of bacterial orfungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are includedin some embodiments. Amylases that find use in the present invention,include, but are not limited to, alpha-amylases obtained from B.licheniformis (See e.g., GB1296839). Additional suitable amylasesinclude those disclosed in WO9510603, WO9526397, WO9623874, WO9623873,WO9741213, WO9919467, WO0060060, WO0029560, WO9923211, WO9946399,WO0060058, WO0060059, WO9942567, WO0114532, WO02092797, WO0166712,WO0188107, WO0196537, WO0210355, WO9402597, WO0231124, WO9943793,WO9943794, WO2004113551, WO2005001064, WO2005003311, WO0164852,WO2006063594, WO2006066594, WO2006066596, WO2006012899, WO2008092919,WO2008000825, WO2005018336, WO2005066338, WO2009140504, WO2005019443,WO2010091221, WO2010088447, WO0134784, WO2006012902, WO2006031554,WO2006136161, WO2008101894, WO2010059413, WO2011098531, WO2011080352,WO2011080353, WO2011080354, WO2011082425, WO2011082429, WO2011076123,WO2011087836, WO2011076897, WO94183314, WO9535382, WO9909183, WO9826078,WO9902702, WO9743424, WO9929876, WO9100353, WO9605295, WO9630481,WO9710342, WO2008088493, WO2009149419, WO2009061381, WO2009100102,WO2010104675, WO2010117511, and WO2010115021, all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Suitable amylases include, for example, commercially available amylasessuch as STAINZYME®, STAINZYME PLUS®, NATALASE®, DURAMYL®, TERMAMYL®,TERMAMYL ULTRA®, FUNGAMYL® and BAN™ (Novo Nordisk A/S and NovozymesA/S); RAPIDASE®, POWERASE®, PURASTAR® and PREFERENZ™ (DuPont IndustrialBiosciences).

Suitable peroxidases/oxidases contemplated for use in the compositionsinclude those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modifiedor protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of peroxidasesuseful herein include those from the genus Coprinus (e.g., C. cinereus,WO93/24618, WO95/10602, and WO98/15257), as well as those referenced inWO2005056782, WO2007106293, WO2008063400, WO2008106214, andWO2008106215. Commercially available peroxidases useful herein include,for example, GUARDZYME™ (Novo Nordisk NS and Novozymes NS).

In some embodiments, peroxidases are used in combination with hydrogenperoxide or a source thereof (e.g., a percarbonate, perborate orpersulfate) in the compositions of the present invention. In somealternative embodiments, oxidases are used in combination with oxygen.Both types of enzymes are used for “solution bleaching” (i.e., toprevent transfer of a textile dye from a dyed fabric to another fabricwhen the fabrics are washed together in a wash liquor), preferablytogether with an enhancing agent (See e.g., WO94/12621 and WO95/01426).Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include, but are not limited to, those ofplant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modifiedmutants are included in some embodiments.

Enzymes that may be comprised in a detergent composition herein may bestabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such aspropylene glycol or glycerol; a sugar or sugar alcohol; lactic acid;boric acid or a boric acid derivative (e.g., an aromatic borate ester).

A detergent composition in certain embodiments may comprise one or morepolymers. Examples of suitable polymers include carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG),poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates,maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acidcopolymers.

A detergent composition herein may contain a bleaching system. Forexample, a bleaching system can comprise an H₂O₂ source such asperborate or percarbonate, which may be combined with a peracid-formingbleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) ornonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS). Alternatively, a bleaching systemmay comprise peroxyacids (e.g., amide, imide, or sulfone typeperoxyacids). Alternatively still, a bleaching system can be anenzymatic bleaching system comprising perhydrolase, for example, such asthe system described in WO2005/056783.

A detergent composition herein may also contain conventional detergentingredients such as fabric conditioners, clays, foam boosters, sudssuppressors, anti-corrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soilredeposition agents, dyes, bactericides, tarnish inhibitors, opticalbrighteners, or perfumes. The pH of a detergent composition herein(measured in aqueous solution at use concentration) is usually neutralor alkaline (e.g., pH of about 7.0 to about 11.0).

It is believed that an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be included asan anti-redeposition agent and/or clay soil removal agent in a detergentcomposition such as a fabric care composition, if desired (such agentscan optionally be characterized as whiteness maintenance agents incertain aspects). Examples of other suitable anti-redeposition and/orclay soil removal agents herein include polyethoxy zwitterionicsurfactants, water-soluble copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acidwith acrylic or methacrylic acid-ethylene oxide condensates (e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 3,719,647), cellulose derivatives such ascarboxymethylcellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.3,597,416 and 3,523,088), and mixtures comprising nonionic alkylpolyethoxy surfactant, polyethoxy alkyl quaternary cationic surfactantand fatty amide surfactant (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,044). Non-limitingexamples of other suitable anti-redeposition and clay soil removalagents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,597,898 and 4,891,160, and Int.Pat. Appl. Publ. No. WO95/32272, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

Particular forms of detergent compositions that can be adapted forpurposes disclosed herein are disclosed in, for example,US20090209445A1, US20100081598A1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,878B2,EP1504994B1, WO2001085888A2, WO2003089562A1, WO2009098659A1,WO2009098660A1, WO2009112992A1, WO2009124160A1, WO2009152031A1,WO2010059483A1, WO2010088112A1, WO2010090915A1, WO2010135238A1,WO2011094687A1, WO2011094690A1, WO2011127102A1, WO2011163428A1,WO2008000567A1, WO2006045391 A1, WO2006007911 A1, WO2012027404A1,EP1740690B1, WO2012059336A1, US6730646B1, WO2008087426A1,WO2010116139A1, and WO2012104613A1, all of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

Laundry detergent compositions herein can optionally be heavy duty (allpurpose) laundry detergent compositions. Exemplary heavy duty laundrydetergent compositions comprise a detersive surfactant (10%-40% wt/wt),including an anionic detersive surfactant (selected from a group oflinear or branched or random chain, substituted or unsubstituted alkylsulphates, alkyl sulphonates, alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, alkylphosphates, alkyl phosphonates, alkyl carboxylates, and/or mixturesthereof), and optionally non-ionic surfactant (selected from a group oflinear or branched or random chain, substituted or unsubstituted alkylalkoxylated alcohol, e.g., C8-C18 alkyl ethoxylated alcohols and/orC6-C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates), where the weight ratio of anionicdetersive surfactant (with a hydrophilic index (Hlc) of from 6.0 to 9)to non-ionic detersive surfactant is greater than 1:1. Suitabledetersive surfactants also include cationic detersive surfactants(selected from a group of alkyl pyridinium compounds, alkyl quaternaryammonium compounds, alkyl quaternary phosphonium compounds, alkylternary sulphonium compounds, and/or mixtures thereof); zwitterionicand/or amphoteric detersive surfactants (selected from a group ofalkanolamine sulpho-betaines); ampholytic surfactants; semi-polarnon-ionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent compositionmay optionally include, a surfactancy boosting polymer consisting ofamphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers (selected from a groupof alkoxylated polymers having branched hydrophilic and hydrophobicproperties, such as alkoxylated polyalkylenimines in the range of 0.05wt %-10 wt %) and/or random graft polymers (typically comprising ofhydrophilic backbone comprising monomers selected from the groupconsisting of: unsaturated C1-C6 carboxylic acids, ethers, alcohols,aldehydes, ketones, esters, sugar units, alkoxy units, maleic anhydride,saturated polyalcohols such as glycerol, and mixtures thereof; andhydrophobic side chain(s) selected from the group consisting of: C4-C25alkyl group, polypropylene, polybutylene, vinyl ester of a saturatedC1-C6 mono-carboxylic acid, C1-C6 alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylicacid, and mixtures thereof.

A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent compositionmay optionally include additional polymers such as soil release polymers(include anionically end-capped polyesters, for example SRP1, polymerscomprising at least one monomer unit selected from saccharide,dicarboxylic acid, polyol and combinations thereof, in random or blockconfiguration, ethylene terephthalate-based polymers and co-polymersthereof in random or block configuration, for example REPEL-O-TEX SF,SF-2 AND SRP6, TEXCARE SRA100, SRA300, SRN100, SRN170, SRN240, SRN300AND SRN325, MARLOQUEST SL), anti-redeposition agent(s) herein (0.1 wt %to 10 wt %), include carboxylate polymers, such as polymers comprisingat least one monomer selected from acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleicanhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid,citraconic acid, methylenemalonic acid, and any mixture thereof,vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer, and/or polyethylene glycol, molecularweight in the range of from 500 to 100,000 Da); and polymericcarboxylate (such as maleate/acrylate random copolymer or polyacrylatehomopolymer).

A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent compositionmay optionally further include saturated or unsaturated fatty acids,preferably saturated or unsaturated C12-C24 fatty acids (0 wt % to 10 wt%); deposition aids disclosed herein (examples for which includepolysaccharides, cellulosic polymers, poly diallyl dimethyl ammoniumhalides (DADMAC), and co-polymers of DAD MAC with vinyl pyrrolidone,acrylamides, imidazoles, imidazolinium halides, and mixtures thereof, inrandom or block configuration, cationic guar gum, cationic starch,cationic polyacylamides, and mixtures thereof).

A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent compositionmay optionally further include dye transfer inhibiting agents, examplesof which include manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases,polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers ofN-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones andpolyvinylimidazoles and/or mixtures thereof; chelating agents, examplesof which include ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine penta methylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP), hydroxy-ethanediphosphonic acid (HEDP), ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS),methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), diethylene triamine penta aceticacid (DTPA), propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA),2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide (HPNO), or methyl glycine diacetic acid(MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (N,N-dicarboxymethyl glutamicacid tetrasodium salt (GLDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA),4,5-dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonic acid, citric acid and any saltsthereof, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA),triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTNA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiaceticacid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG),ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP), and derivatives thereof.

A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent compositionmay optionally include silicone or fatty-acid based suds suppressors;hueing dyes, calcium and magnesium cations, visual signalingingredients, anti-foam (0.001 wt % to about 4.0 wt %), and/or astructurant/thickener (0.01 wt % to 5 wt %) selected from the groupconsisting of diglycerides and triglycerides, ethylene glycoldistearate, microcrystalline cellulose, microfiber cellulose,biopolymers, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures thereof). Suchstructurant/thickener would be, in certain embodiments, in addition tothe one or more oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds comprised inthe detergent. A structurant can also be referred to as a structuralagent.

A detergent herein can be in the form of a heavy duty dry/solid laundrydetergent composition, for example. Such a detergent may include: (i) adetersive surfactant, such as any anionic detersive surfactant disclosedherein, any non-ionic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, anycationic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any zwitterionic and/oramphoteric detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any ampholyticsurfactant, any semi-polar non-ionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof;(ii) a builder, such as any phosphate-free builder (e.g., zeolitebuilders in the range of 0 wt % to less than 10 wt %), any phosphatebuilder (e.g., sodium tri-polyphosphate in the range of 0 wt % to lessthan 10 wt %), citric acid, citrate salts and nitrilotriacetic acid, anysilicate salt (e.g., sodium or potassium silicate or sodiummeta-silicate in the range of 0 wt % to less than 10 wt %); anycarbonate salt (e.g., sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate in therange of 0 wt % to less than 80 wt %), and mixtures thereof; (iii) ableaching agent, such as any photobleach (e.g., sulfonated zincphthalocyanines, sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines, xanthenes dyes,and mixtures thereof), any hydrophobic or hydrophilic bleach activator(e.g., dodecanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate, decanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate,decanoyl oxybenzoic acid or salts thereof, 3,5,5-trimethy hexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, tetraacetyl ethylene diamine-TAED,nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate-NOBS, nitrile quats, and mixtures thereof),any source of hydrogen peroxide (e.g., inorganic perhydrate salts,examples of which include mono or tetra hydrate sodium salt ofperborate, percarbonate, persulfate, perphosphate, or persilicate), anypreformed hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic peracids (e.g., percarboxylicacids and salts, percarbonic acids and salts, perimidic acids and salts,peroxymonosulfuric acids and salts, and mixtures thereof); and/or (iv)any other components such as a bleach catalyst (e.g., imine bleachboosters examples of which include iminium cations and polyions, iminiumzwitterions, modified amines, modified amine oxides, N-sulphonyl imines,N-phosphonyl imines, N-acyl imines, thiadiazole dioxides,perfluoroimines, cyclic sugar ketones, and mixtures thereof), and ametal-containing bleach catalyst (e.g., copper, iron, titanium,ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum, or manganese cations along with anauxiliary metal cations such as zinc or aluminum and a sequestrate suchas EDTA, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid).

Compositions disclosed herein can be in the form of a dishwashingdetergent composition. Examples of dishwashing detergents includeautomatic dishwashing detergents (typically used in dishwasher machines)and hand-washing dish detergents. A dishwashing detergent compositioncan be in any dry or liquid/aqueous form as disclosed herein, forexample. Components that may be included in certain embodiments of adishwashing detergent composition include, for example, one or more of aphosphate; oxygen- or chlorine-based bleaching agent; non-ionicsurfactant; alkaline salt (e.g., metasilicates, alkali metal hydroxides,sodium carbonate); any active enzyme disclosed herein; anti-corrosionagent (e.g., sodium silicate); anti-foaming agent; additives to slowdown the removal of glaze and patterns from ceramics; perfume;anti-caking agent (in granular detergent); starch (in tablet-baseddetergents); gelling agent (in liquid/gel based detergents); and/or sand(powdered detergents).

Dishwashing detergents such as an automatic dishwasher detergent orliquid dishwashing detergent can comprise (i) a non-ionic surfactant,including any ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant, alcohol alkoxylatedsurfactant, epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol, or amine oxidesurfactant present in an amount from 0 to 10 wt %; (ii) a builder, inthe range of about 5-60 wt %, including oxidized poly alpha-1,3 glucanand any phosphate builder (e.g., mono-phosphates, di-phosphates,tri-polyphosphates, other oligomeric-polyphosphates, sodiumtripolyphosphate-STPP), any phosphate-free builder (e.g., aminoacid-based compounds including methyl-glycine-diacetic acid [MGDA] andsalts or derivatives thereof, glutamic-N,N-diacetic acid [GLDA] andsalts or derivatives thereof, iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and salts orderivatives thereof, carboxy methyl inulin and salts or derivativesthereof, nitrilotriacetic acid [NTA], diethylene triamine penta aceticacid [DTPA], B-alaninediacetic acid [B-ADA]and salts thereof),homopolymers and copolymers of poly-carboxylic acids and partially orcompletely neutralized salts thereof, monomeric polycarboxylic acids andhydroxycarboxylic acids and salts thereof in the range of 0.5 wt % to 50wt %, or sulfonated/carboxylated polymers in the range of about 0.1 wt %to about 50 wt %; (iii) a drying aid in the range of about 0.1 wt % toabout 10 wt % (e.g., polyesters, especially anionic polyesters,optionally together with further monomers with 3 to 6functionalities—typically acid, alcohol or ester functionalities whichare conducive to polycondensation, polycarbonate-, polyurethane- and/orpolyurea-polyorganosiloxane compounds or precursor compounds thereof,particularly of the reactive cyclic carbonate and urea type); (iv) asilicate in the range from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % (e.g., sodiumor potassium silicates such as sodium disilicate, sodium meta-silicateand crystalline phyllosilicates); (v) an inorganic bleach (e.g.,perhydrate salts such as perborate, percarbonate, perphosphate,persulfate and persilicate salts) and/or an organic bleach (e.g.,organic peroxyacids such as diacyl- and tetraacylperoxides, especiallydiperoxydodecanedioic acid, diperoxytetradecanedioic acid, anddiperoxyhexadecanedioic acid); (vi) a bleach activator (e.g., organicperacid precursors in the range from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt %)and/or bleach catalyst (e.g., manganese triazacyclononane and relatedcomplexes; Co, Cu, Mn, and Fe bispyridylamine and related complexes; andpentamine acetate cobalt(III) and related complexes); (vii) a metal careagent in the range from about 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % (e.g., benzatriazoles,metal salts and complexes, and/or silicates); and/or (viii) any activeenzyme disclosed herein in the range from about 0.01 to 5.0 mg of activeenzyme per gram of automatic dishwashing detergent composition, and anenzyme stabilizer component (e.g., oligosaccharides, polysaccharides,and inorganic divalent metal salts).

Various examples of detergent formulations comprising at least oneoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein are disclosed below(1-19):

1) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate(calculated as acid) at about 7-12 wt %; alcohol ethoxysulfate (e.g.,C12-18 alcohol, 1-2 ethylene oxide [EO]) or alkyl sulfate (e.g., C16-18)at about 1-4 wt %; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C14-15 alcohol) at about5-9 wt %; sodium carbonate at about 14-20 wt %; soluble silicate (e.g.,Na₂O 2SiO₂) at about 2-6 wt %; zeolite (e.g., NaAlSiO₄) at about 15-22wt %; sodium sulfate at about 0-6 wt %; sodium citrate/citric acid atabout 0-15 wt %; sodium perborate at about 11-18 wt %; TAED at about 2-6wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt%; polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG) at about 0-3wt %; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) atabout 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minor ingredients (e.g., suds suppressors,perfumes, optical brightener, photobleach) at about 0-5 wt %.

2) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate(calculated as acid) at about 6-11 wt %; alcohol ethoxysulfate (e.g.,C12-18 alcohol, 1-2 EO) or alkyl sulfate (e.g., C16-18) at about 1-3 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C14-15 alcohol) at about 5-9 wt %; sodiumcarbonate at about 15-21 wt %; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂) atabout 1-4 wt %; zeolite (e.g., NaAlSiO₄) at about 24-34 wt %; sodiumsulfate at about 4-10 wt %; sodium citrate/citric acid at about 0-15 wt%; sodium perborate at about 11-18 wt %; TAED at about 2-6 wt %; anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt %;polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG) at about 1-6 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minor ingredients (e.g., suds suppressors,perfumes, optical brightener, photobleach) at about 0-5 wt %.

3) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate(calculated as acid) at about 5-9 wt %; alcohol ethoxysulfate (e.g.,C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO) at about 7-14 wt %; soap as fatty acid (e.g.,C16-22 fatty acid) at about 1-3 wt %; sodium carbonate at about 10-17 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂) at about 3-9 wt %; zeolite (e.g.,NaAlSiO₄) at about 23-33 wt %; sodium sulfate at about 0-4 wt %; sodiumperborate at about 8-16 wt %; TAED at about 2-8 wt %; phosphonate (e.g.,EDTMPA) at about 0-1 wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundherein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acidcopolymer, PVP, PEG) at about 0-3 wt %; optionally an enzyme(s)(calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minoringredients (e.g., suds suppressors, perfumes, optical brightener) atabout 0-5 wt %.

4) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate(calculated as acid) at about 8-12 wt %; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g.,C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO) at about 10-25 wt %; sodium carbonate at about14-22 wt %; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂) at about 1-5 wt %;zeolite (e.g., NaAlSiO₄) at about 25-35 wt %; sodium sulfate at about0-10 wt %; sodium perborate at about 8-16 wt %; TAED at about 2-8 wt %;phosphonate (e.g., EDTMPA) at about 0-1 wt %; an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g.,maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG) at about 1-3 wt %; optionallyan enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt%; and minor ingredients (e.g., suds suppressors, perfumes) at about 0-5wt %.

5) An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 15-21 wt %; alcoholethoxylate (e.g., C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) atabout 12-18 wt %; soap as fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid) at about 3-13 wt%; alkenylsuccinic acid (C12-14) at about 0-13 wt %; aminoethanol atabout 8-18 wt %; citric acid at about 2-8 wt %; phosphonate at about 0-3wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt%; polymers (e.g., PVP, PEG) at about 0-3 wt %; borate at about 0-2 wt%; ethanol at about 0-3 wt %; propylene glycol at about 8-14 wt %;optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minor ingredients (e.g., dispersants, sudssuppressors, perfume, optical brightener) at about 0-5 wt %.

6) An aqueous structured liquid detergent composition comprising: linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 15-21 wt %; alcoholethoxylate (e.g., C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) atabout 3-9 wt %; soap as fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid) at about 3-10 wt%; zeolite (e.g., NaAlSiO₄) at about 14-22 wt %; potassium citrate about9-18 wt %; borate at about 0-2 wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound herein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g., PVP, PEG) at about0-3 wt %; ethanol at about 0-3 wt %; anchoring polymers (e.g., laurylmethacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer, molar ratio 25:1, MW 3800) at about0-3 wt %; glycerol at about 0-5 wt %; optionally an enzyme(s)(calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minoringredients (e.g., dispersants, suds suppressors, perfume, opticalbrightener) at about 0-5 wt %.

7) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: fatty alcohol sulfate at about5-10 wt %, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide at about 3-9 wt %;soap as fatty acid at about 0-3 wt %; sodium carbonate at about 5-10 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂) at about 1-4 wt %; zeolite (e.g.,NaAlSiO₄) at about 20-40 wt %; sodium sulfate at about 2-8 wt %; sodiumperborate at about 12-18 wt %; TAED at about 2-7 wt %; an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g.,maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PEG) at about 1-5 wt %; optionally anenzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %;and minor ingredients (e.g., optical brightener, suds suppressors,perfumes) at about 0-5 wt %.

8) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate comprising: linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 8-14 wt %;ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide at about 5-11 wt %; soap asfatty acid at about 0-3 wt %; sodium carbonate at about 4-10 wt %;soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂) at about 1-4 wt %; zeolite (e.g.,NaAlSiO₄) at about 30-50 wt %; sodium sulfate at about 3-11 wt %; sodiumcitrate at about 5-12 wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundherein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g., PVP, maleic/acrylic acidcopolymer, PEG) at about 1-5 wt %; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculatedas pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minor ingredients(e.g., suds suppressors, perfumes) at about 0-5 wt %.

9) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate comprising: linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 6-12 wt %; nonionicsurfactant at about 1-4 wt %; soap as fatty acid at about 2-6 wt %;sodium carbonate at about 14-22 wt %; zeolite (e.g., NaAlSiO₄) at about18-32 wt %; sodium sulfate at about 5-20 wt %; sodium citrate at about3-8 wt %; sodium perborate at about 4-9 wt %; bleach activator (e.g.,NOBS or TAED) at about 1-5 wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound herein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g., polycarboxylate orPEG) at about 1-5 wt %; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pureenzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minor ingredients (e.g.,optical brightener, perfume) at about 0-5 wt %.

10) An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 15-23 wt %; alcoholethoxysulfate (e.g., C12-15 alcohol, 2-3 EO) at about 8-15 wt %; alcoholethoxylate (e.g., C12-15 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) atabout 3-9 wt %; soap as fatty acid (e.g., lauric acid) at about 0-3 wt%; aminoethanol at about 1-5 wt %; sodium citrate at about 5-10 wt %;hydrotrope (e.g., sodium toluenesulfonate) at about 2-6 wt %; borate atabout 0-2 wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up toabout 1 wt %; ethanol at about 1-3 wt %; propylene glycol at about 2-5wt %; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) atabout 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minor ingredients (e.g., dispersants,perfume, optical brighteners) at about 0-5 wt %.

11) An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: linearalkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 20-32 wt %; alcoholethoxylate (e.g., C12-15 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) atabout 6-12 wt %; aminoethanol at about 2-6 wt %; citric acid at about8-14 wt %; borate at about 1-3 wt %; an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound herein up to about 2 wt %; ethanol at about 1-3 wt %; propyleneglycol at about 2-5 wt %; other polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acidcopolymer, anchoring polymer such as lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acidcopolymer) at about 0-3 wt %; glycerol at about 3-8 wt %; optionally anenzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %;and minor ingredients (e.g., hydrotropes, dispersants, perfume, opticalbrighteners) at about 0-5 wt %.

12) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: anionic surfactant (e.g., linearalkylbenzenesulfonate, alkyl sulfate, alpha-olefinsulfonate, alpha-sulfofatty acid methyl esters, alkanesulfonates, soap) at about 25-40 wt %;nonionic surfactant (e.g., alcohol ethoxylate) at about 1-10 wt %;sodium carbonate at about 8-25 wt %; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂)at about 5-15 wt %; sodium sulfate at about 0-5 wt %; zeolite (NaAlSiO₄)at about 15-28 wt %; sodium perborate at about 0-20 wt %; bleachactivator (e.g., TAED or NOBS) at about 0-5 wt %; an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt %; optionally anenzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %;and minor ingredients (e.g., perfume, optical brighteners) at about 0-3wt %.

13) Detergent compositions as described in (1)-(12) above, but in whichall or part of the linear alkylbenzenesulfonate is replaced by C12-C18alkyl sulfate.

14) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: C12-C18 alkyl sulfate at about9-15 wt %; alcohol ethoxylate at about 3-6 wt %; polyhydroxy alkyl fattyacid amide at about 1-5 wt %; zeolite (e.g., NaAlSiO₄) at about 10-20 wt%; layered disilicate (e.g., SK56 from Hoechst) at about 10-20 wt %;sodium carbonate at about 3-12 wt %; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂)at 0-6 wt %; sodium citrate at about 4-8 wt %; sodium percarbonate atabout 13-22 wt %; TAED at about 3-8 wt %; an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 2 wt %; polymers (e.g.,polycarboxylates and PVP) at about 0-5 wt %; optionally an enzyme(s)(calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %; and minoringredients (e.g., optical brightener, photobleach, perfume, sudssuppressors) at about 0-5 wt %.

15) A detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulkdensity of at least 600 g/L comprising: C12-C18 alkyl sulfate at about4-8 wt %; alcohol ethoxylate at about 11-15 wt %; soap at about 1-4 wt%; zeolite MAP or zeolite A at about 35-45 wt %; sodium carbonate atabout 2-8 wt %; soluble silicate (e.g., Na₂O 2SiO₂) at 0-4 wt %; sodiumpercarbonate at about 13-22 wt %; TAED at about 1-8 wt %; an oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein up to about 3 wt %; polymers(e.g., polycarboxylates and PVP) at about 0-3 wt %; optionally anenzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001-0.1 wt %;and minor ingredients (e.g., optical brightener, phosphonate, perfume)at about 0-3 wt %.

16) Detergent formulations as described in (1)-(15) above, but thatcontain a stabilized or encapsulated peracid, either as an additionalcomponent or as a substitute for an already specified bleach system(s).

17) Detergent compositions as described in (1), (3), (7), (9) and (12)above, but in which perborate is replaced by percarbonate.

18) Detergent compositions as described in (1), (3), (7), (9), (12),(14) and (15) above, but that additionally contain a manganese catalyst.A manganese catalyst, for example, is one of the compounds described byHage et al. (1994, Nature 369:637-639), which is incorporated herein byreference.

19) Detergent compositions formulated as a non-aqueous detergent liquidcomprising a liquid non-ionic surfactant (e.g., a linear alkoxylatedprimary alcohol), a builder system (e.g., phosphate), an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound herein, optionally an enzyme(s), and alkali.The detergent may also comprise an anionic surfactant and/or bleachsystem.

It is believed that numerous commercially available detergentformulations can be adapted to include an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound as disclosed herein. Examples include PUREX® ULTRAPACKS(Henkel), FINISH® QUANTUM (Reckitt Benckiser), CLOROX™ 2 PACKS (Clorox),OXICLEAN MAX FORCE POWER PAKS (Church & Dwight), TIDE® STAIN RELEASE,CASCADE® ACTIONPACS, and TIDE® PODS™ (Procter & Gamble).

Compositions disclosed herein can be in the form of an oral carecomposition, for example. Examples of oral care compositions includedentifrices, toothpaste, mouth wash, mouth rinse, chewing gum, andedible strips that provide some form of oral care (e.g., treatment orprevention of cavities [dental caries], gingivitis, plaque, tartar,and/or periodontal disease). An oral care composition can also be fortreating an “oral surface”, which encompasses any soft or hard surfacewithin the oral cavity including surfaces of the tongue, hard and softpalate, buccal mucosa, gums and dental surfaces. A “dental surface”herein is a surface of a natural tooth or a hard surface of artificialdentition including a crown, cap, filling, bridge, denture, or dentalimplant, for example.

An oral care composition herein can comprise about 0.01-15.0 wt % (e.g.,˜0.1-10 wt % or ˜0.1-5.0 wt %, ˜0.1-2.0 wt %) of one or more oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds as disclosed herein, for example. One ormore oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds comprised in an oral carecomposition can sometimes be provided therein as a thickening agentand/or dispersion agent, which may be useful to impart a desiredconsistency and/or mouth feel to the composition. One or more otherthickening or dispersion agents can also be provided in an oral carecomposition herein, such as a carboxyvinyl polymer, carrageenan (e.g.,L-carrageenan), natural gum (e.g., karaya, xanthan, gum arabic,tragacanth), colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, or colloidal silica,for example. In some embodiments, oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can beincluded as a builder.

An oral care composition herein may be a toothpaste or other dentifrice,for example. Such compositions, as well as any other oral carecomposition herein, can additionally comprise, without limitation, oneor more of an anticaries agent, antimicrobial or antibacterial agent,anticalculus or tartar control agent, surfactant, abrasive, pH-modifyingagent, foam modulator, humectant, flavorant, sweetener,pigment/colorant, whitening agent, and/or other suitable components.Examples of oral care compositions to which one or more oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds can be added are disclosed in U.S. PatentAppl. Publ. Nos. 2006/0134025, 2002/0022006 and 2008/0057007, which areincorporated herein by reference.

An anticaries agent herein can be an orally acceptable source offluoride ions. Suitable sources of fluoride ions include fluoride,monofluorophosphate and fluorosilicate salts as well as amine fluorides,including olaflur(N′-octadecyltrimethylendiamine-N,N,N′-tris(2-ethanol)-dihydrofluoride),for example. An anticaries agent can be present in an amount providing atotal of about 100-20000 ppm, about 200-5000 ppm, or about 500-2500 ppm,fluoride ions to the composition, for example. In oral care compositionsin which sodium fluoride is the sole source of fluoride ions, an amountof about 0.01-5.0 wt %, about 0.05-1.0 wt %, or about 0.1-0.5 wt %,sodium fluoride can be present in the composition, for example.

An antimicrobial or antibacterial agent suitable for use in an oral carecomposition herein includes, for example, phenolic compounds (e.g.,4-allylcatechol; p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters such as benzylparaben,butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben;2-benzylphenol; butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene;capsaicin; carvacrol; creosol; eugenol; guaiacol; halogenatedbisphenolics such as hexachlorophene and bromochlorophene;4-hexylresorcinol; 8-hydroxyquinoline and salts thereof; salicylic acidesters such as menthyl salicylate, methyl salicylate and phenylsalicylate; phenol; pyrocatechol; salicylanilide; thymol; halogenateddiphenylether compounds such as triclosan and triclosan monophosphate),copper (II) compounds (e.g., copper (II) chloride, fluoride, sulfate andhydroxide), zinc ion sources (e.g., zinc acetate, citrate, gluconate,glycinate, oxide, and sulfate), phthalic acid and salts thereof (e.g.,magnesium monopotassium phthalate), hexetidine, octenidine,sanguinarine, benzalkonium chloride, domiphen bromide, alkylpyridiniumchlorides (e.g. cetylpyridinium chloride, tetradecylpyridinium chloride,N-tetradecyl-4-ethylpyridinium chloride), iodine, sulfonamides,bisbiguanides (e.g., alexidine, chlorhexidine, chlorhexidinedigluconate), piperidino derivatives (e.g., delmopinol, octapinol),magnolia extract, grapeseed extract, rosemary extract, menthol,geraniol, citral, eucalyptol, antibiotics (e.g., augmentin, amoxicillin,tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, metronidazole, neomycin,kanamycin, clindamycin), and/or any antibacterial agents disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,776,435, which is incorporated herein by reference. Oneor more antimicrobial agents can optionally be present at about 0.01-10wt % (e.g., 0.1-3 wt %), for example, in the disclosed oral carecomposition.

An anticalculus or tartar control agent suitable for use in an oral carecomposition herein includes, for example, phosphates and polyphosphates(e.g., pyrophosphates), polyaminopropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), zinccitrate trihydrate, polypeptides (e.g., polyaspartic and polyglutamicacids), polyolefin sulfonates, polyolefin phosphates, diphosphonates(e.g., azacycloalkane-2,2-diphosphonates such asazacycloheptane-2,2-diphosphonic acid), N-methylazacyclopentane-2,3-diphosphonic acid, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonicacid (EHDP), ethane-1-amino-1,1-diphosphonate, and/or phosphonoalkanecarboxylic acids and salts thereof (e.g., their alkali metal andammonium salts). Useful inorganic phosphate and polyphosphate saltsinclude, for example, monobasic, dibasic and tribasic sodium phosphates,sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrapolyphosphate, mono-, di-, tri- andtetra-sodium pyrophosphates, disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, sodiumtrimetaphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, or any of these in whichsodium is replaced by potassium or ammonium. Other useful anticalculusagents in certain embodiments include anionic polycarboxylate polymers(e.g., polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic, and maleicanhydride such as polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers).Still other useful anticalculus agents include sequestering agents suchas hydroxycarboxylic acids (e.g., citric, fumaric, malic, glutaric andoxalic acids and salts thereof) and aminopolycarboxylic acids (e.g.,EDTA). One or more anticalculus or tartar control agents can optionallybe present at about 0.01-50 wt % (e.g., about 0.05-25 wt % or about0.1-15 wt %), for example, in the disclosed oral care composition.

A surfactant suitable for use in an oral care composition herein may beanionic, non-ionic, or amphoteric, for example. Suitable anionicsurfactants include, without limitation, water-soluble salts of C₈₋₂₀alkyl sulfates, sulfonated monoglycerides of C₈₋₂₀ fatty acids,sarcosinates, and taurates. Examples of anionic surfactants includesodium lauryl sulfate, sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonate, sodiumlauryl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl isoethionate, sodium laurethcarboxylate and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate. Suitable non-ionicsurfactants include, without limitation, poloxamers, polyoxyethylenesorbitan esters, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates,tertiary amine oxides, tertiary phosphine oxides, and dialkylsulfoxides. Suitable amphoteric surfactants include, without limitation,derivatives of C₈₋₂₀ aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines having ananionic group such as a carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate orphosphonate. An example of a suitable amphoteric surfactant iscocoamidopropyl betaine. One or more surfactants are optionally presentin a total amount of about 0.01-10 wt % (e.g., about 0.05-5.0 wt % orabout 0.1-2.0 wt %), for example, in the disclosed oral carecomposition.

An abrasive suitable for use in an oral care composition herein mayinclude, for example, silica (e.g., silica gel, hydrated silica,precipitated silica), alumina, insoluble phosphates, calcium carbonate,and resinous abrasives (e.g., a urea-formaldehyde condensation product).Examples of insoluble phosphates useful as abrasives herein areorthophosphates, polymetaphosphates and pyrophosphates, and includedicalcium orthophosphate dihydrate, calcium pyrophosphate, beta-calciumpyrophosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium polymetaphosphate andinsoluble sodium polymetaphosphate. One or more abrasives are optionallypresent in a total amount of about 5-70 wt % (e.g., about 10-56 wt % orabout 15-30 wt %), for example, in the disclosed oral care composition.The average particle size of an abrasive in certain embodiments is about0.1-30 microns (e.g., about 1-20 microns or about 5-15 microns).

An oral care composition in certain embodiments may comprise at leastone pH-modifying agent. Such agents may be selected to acidify, makemore basic, or buffer the pH of a composition to a pH range of about2-10 (e.g., pH ranging from about 2-8, 3-9, 4-8, 5-7, 6-10, or 7-9).Examples of pH-modifying agents useful herein include, withoutlimitation, carboxylic, phosphoric and sulfonic acids; acid salts (e.g.,monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, monosodium malate); alkali metalhydroxides (e.g. sodium hydroxide, carbonates such as sodium carbonate,bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates); borates; silicates; phosphates (e.g.,monosodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, pyrophosphate salts); andimidazole.

A foam modulator suitable for use in an oral care composition herein maybe a polyethylene glycol (PEG), for example. High molecular weight PEGsare suitable, including those having an average molecular weight ofabout 200000-7000000 (e.g., about 500000-5000000 or about1000000-2500000), for example. One or more PEGs are optionally presentin a total amount of about 0.1-10 wt % (e.g. about 0.2-5.0 wt % or about0.25-2.0 wt %), for example, in the disclosed oral care composition.

An oral care composition in certain embodiments may comprise at leastone humectant. A humectant in certain embodiments may be a polyhydricalcohol such as glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, or a low molecular weightPEG. Most suitable humectants also may function as a sweetener herein.One or more humectants are optionally present in a total amount of about1.0-70 wt % (e.g., about 1.0-50 wt %, about 2-25 wt %, or about 5-15 wt%), for example, in the disclosed oral care composition.

A natural or artificial sweetener may optionally be comprised in an oralcare composition herein. Examples of suitable sweeteners includedextrose, sucrose, maltose, dextrin, invert sugar, mannose, xylose,ribose, fructose, levulose, galactose, corn syrup (e.g., high fructosecorn syrup or corn syrup solids), partially hydrolyzed starch,hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol,isomalt, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and salts thereof,dipeptide-based intense sweeteners, and cyclamates. One or moresweeteners are optionally present in a total amount of about 0.005-5.0wt %, for example, in the disclosed oral care composition.

A natural or artificial flavorant may optionally be comprised in an oralcare composition herein. Examples of suitable flavorants includevanillin; sage; marjoram; parsley oil; spearmint oil; cinnamon oil; oilof wintergreen (methylsalicylate); peppermint oil; clove oil; bay oil;anise oil; eucalyptus oil; citrus oils; fruit oils; essences such asthose derived from lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, apricot, banana,grape, apple, strawberry, cherry, or pineapple; bean- and nut-derivedflavors such as coffee, cocoa, cola, peanut, or almond; and adsorbed andencapsulated flavorants. Also encompassed within flavorants herein areingredients that provide fragrance and/or other sensory effect in themouth, including cooling or warming effects. Such ingredients include,without limitation, menthol, menthyl acetate, menthyl lactate, camphor,eucalyptus oil, eucalyptol, anethole, eugenol, cassia, oxanone,Irisone®, propenyl guaiethol, thymol, linalool, benzaldehyde,cinnamaldehyde, N-ethyl-p-menthan-3-carboxamine,N,2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropylbutanamide, 3-(1-menthoxy)-propane-1,2-diol,cinnamaldehyde glycerol acetal (CGA), and menthone glycerol acetal(MGA). One or more flavorants are optionally present in a total amountof about 0.01-5.0 wt % (e.g., about 0.1-2.5 wt %), for example, in thedisclosed oral care composition.

An oral care composition in certain embodiments may comprise at leastone bicarbonate salt. Any orally acceptable bicarbonate can be used,including alkali metal bicarbonates such as sodium or potassiumbicarbonate, and ammonium bicarbonate, for example. One or morebicarbonate salts are optionally present in a total amount of about0.1-50 wt % (e.g., about 1-20 wt %), for example, in the disclosed oralcare composition.

An oral care composition in certain embodiments may comprise at leastone whitening agent and/or colorant. A suitable whitening agent is aperoxide compound such as any of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,540,971, which is incorporated herein by reference. Suitable colorantsherein include pigments, dyes, lakes and agents imparting a particularluster or reflectivity such as pearling agents, for example. Specificexamples of colorants useful herein include talc; mica; magnesiumcarbonate; calcium carbonate; magnesium silicate; magnesium aluminumsilicate; silica; titanium dioxide; zinc oxide; red, yellow, brown andblack iron oxides; ferric ammonium ferrocyanide; manganese violet;ultramarine; titaniated mica; and bismuth oxychloride. One or morecolorants are optionally present in a total amount of about 0.001-20 wt% (e.g., about 0.01-10 wt % or about 0.1-5.0 wt %), for example, in thedisclosed oral care composition.

Additional components that can optionally be included in an oralcomposition herein include one or more enzymes (above), vitamins, andanti-adhesion agents, for example. Examples of vitamins useful hereininclude vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B5, and folic acid. Examples ofsuitable anti-adhesion agents include solbrol, ficin, and quorum-sensinginhibitors.

The disclosed invention also concerns a method of preparing an aqueouscomposition having increased builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity.This method comprises contacting at least one oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound as disclosed herein with an aqueouscomposition, wherein the builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity ofthe aqueous composition is increased by the compound when compared tothe builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous compositionas it existed before the contacting step. An increase inanti-redeposition capacity can, in some embodiments, also refer to anincrease in clay removal capacity.

An aqueous composition in this method can be any aqueous composition asdisclosed herein, for example, such as a household care product,personal care product, industrial product, pharmaceutical product, orfood product. Examples of suitable household care products includefabric care products such as laundry detergent and fabric softener, anddishwashing detergent. Examples of suitable personal care items includehair care products (e.g. shampoos, conditioners), dentifricecompositions (e.g., toothpaste, mouthwash), and skin care products(e.g., hand or body soap, lotion, cosmetics).

In some embodiments, an aqueous composition in this method is adetergent and/or surfactant composition. Such a composition herein cancomprise at least one detergent/surfactant ingredient, such as any ofthe present disclosure, at about 0.01-10 wt % (e.g., about 0.05-5.0 wt %or about 0.1-2.0 wt %), for example. A skilled artisan would recognizeall the various products disclosed herein that constitute examples ofdetergent/surfactant-comprising compositions such as certain householdcare products (e.g., laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent) andpersonal care products (e.g., hand/body soap, dentifrices), particularlythose used in cleaning applications.

Contacting an aqueous composition with one or more oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein can increase the builder and/oranti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition. This increase canbe an increase of at least about 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 500%, or1000% (or any integer between 1% and 1000%), for example, compared tothe builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous compositionbefore the contacting step. An increase in builder and/oranti-redeposition capacity can be determined, for example, by comparingthe builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous compositionobtained by the method (i.e., after the contacting step) with thebuilder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition asit had existed before the method (i.e., before the contacting step).Alternatively, a control aqueous composition can be used, which is notcontacted with oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan, but otherwise containsthe same contents as the test composition.

The degree of anti-redeposition and/or clay removal capacity achievedusing the presently disclosed subject matter can be measured followingthe disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,898, for example, which isincorporated herein by reference. For example, anti-redepositioncomparisons can be conducted in a 5-pot Automatic Miniwasher (AMW)employing 7-grain hardness water and a temperature of 95° F. Testswatches are washed for 10 minutes and rinsed twice with water (7-grainhardness) at 75° F. for 2 minutes. The AMW pots are filled with 6 litersof water each, after which a detergent composition to be tested (controlor further containing oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan [e.g., 20 ppm]) isadded and agitated for 2 minutes. A background soil mixture (200 ppmartificial body soil, 100 ppm vacuum cleaner soil and 200 ppm clay soil)is then added and agitated for an additional 3 minutes. Three 5-inchsquare test swatches (50% polyester/50% cotton T-shirt material) arethen added, along with two 80% cotton/20% polyester terry clothes andtwo 11-inch square swatches of 100% polyester knit fabric. A 10-minutewash cycle is initiated at this point. Following a rinse cycle, the testswatches are dried in a mini-dryer. Gardner Whiteness meter readings (L,a and b) are then determined for the three test swatches.Anti-redeposition performance (ARD) is then calculated according to thefollowing equation: ARD=(7(L²)−40(L)(b))/700. The ARD values for thethree test swatches are then averaged. The improvement inanti-redeposition performance of the detergent composition containingoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan is measured as the difference in ARDvalue relative to the control composition. As another example ofdetermining degree of anti-redeposition, such can be gauged, in part,following methodology disclosed in the below Examples (adsorptionstudies).

The degree of increased builder capacity achieved using the presentlydisclosed subject matter can be measured following any number ofmethods. For example, increased builder capacity effected by an oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compound can be estimated by determining theextent to which the compound supplies alkalinity to an aqueouscomposition, or buffers an aqueous composition to maintain alkalinity.As another example, increased builder capacity effected by an oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compound can be estimated by determining theextent to which the compound reduces hardness in an aqueous composition(it is believed that oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can effect thisfeature by sequestering or chelating hard water cations) and/or helps toremove soil in suspension (this feature typically applies to fabric carecompositions). As another example, increased builder capacity can bedetermined following methodology disclosed in the below Examples(calcium dispersing capacity).

The contacting step in a method for increasing the builder and/oranti-redeposition capacity of an aqueous composition can be performed bymixing or dissolving any oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound aspresently disclosed in the aqueous composition by any means known in theart. For example, mixing or dissolving can be performed manually or witha machine (e.g., industrial mixer or blender, orbital shaker, stirplate, homogenizer, sonicator, bead mill). Mixing or dissolving cancomprise a homogenization step in certain embodiments. Homogenization(as well as any other type of mixing) can be performed for about 5 to60, 5 to 30, 10 to 60, 10 to 30, 5 to 15, or 10 to 15 seconds (or anyinteger between 5 and 60 seconds), or longer periods of time asnecessary to mix oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan with the aqueouscomposition. A homogenizer can be used at about 5000 to 30000 rpm, 10000to 30000 rpm, 15000 to 30000 rpm, 15000 to 25000 rpm, or 20000 rpm (orany integer between 5000 and 30000 rpm), for example.

After an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound herein is mixed with ordissolved into an aqueous composition, the resulting aqueous compositionmay be filtered, or may not be filtered. For example, an aqueouscomposition prepared with a homogenization step may or may not befiltered.

The order in which components of an aqueous composition, includingoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan, are brought together to form the aqueouscomposition is not believed to be important. For example, oxidizedpoly-alpha-1,3-glucan can be added as an ingredient at the same time aswhen one or more other ingredients are added. Thus, the feature ofcontacting oxidized poly-alpha-1,3-glucan with an aqueous composition isnot intended to refer only to embodiments in which an oxidizedpoly-alpha-1,3-glucan is added to a final- or near final-preparedaqueous composition.

The disclosed invention also concerns a method of treating a material.This method comprises contacting a material with an aqueous compositioncomprising at least one oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound asdisclosed herein.

A material contacted with an aqueous composition in a contacting methodherein can comprise a fabric in certain embodiments. A fabric herein cancomprise natural fibers, synthetic fibers, semi-synthetic fibers, or anycombination thereof. A semi-synthetic fiber herein is produced usingnaturally occurring material that has been chemically derivatized, anexample of which is rayon. Non-limiting examples of fabric types hereininclude fabrics made of (i) cellulosic fibers such as cotton (e.g.,broadcloth, canvas, chambray, chenille, chintz, corduroy, cretonne,damask, denim, flannel, gingham, jacquard, knit, matelassé, oxford,percale, poplin, plissé, sateen, seersucker, sheers, terry cloth, twill,velvet), rayon (e.g., viscose, modal, lyocell), linen, and Tencel®; (ii)proteinaceous fibers such as silk, wool and related mammalian fibers;(iii) synthetic fibers such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, and the like;(iv) long vegetable fibers from jute, flax, ramie, coir, kapok, sisal,henequen, abaca, hemp and sunn; and (v) any combination of a fabric of(i)-(iv). Fabric comprising a combination of fiber types (e.g., naturaland synthetic) include those with both a cotton fiber and polyester, forexample. Materials/articles containing one or more fabrics hereininclude, for example, clothing, curtains, drapes, upholstery, carpeting,bed linens, bath linens, tablecloths, sleeping bags, tents, carinteriors, etc. Other materials comprising natural and/or syntheticfibers include, for example, non-woven fabrics, paddings, paper, andfoams.

An aqueous composition that is contacted with a fabric can be, forexample, a fabric care composition (e.g., laundry detergent, fabricsoftener). Thus, a treatment method in certain embodiments can beconsidered a fabric care method or laundry method if employing a fabriccare composition therein. A fabric care composition herein iscontemplated to effect one or more of the following fabric care benefits(i.e., surface substantive effects): wrinkle removal, wrinkle reduction,wrinkle resistance, fabric wear reduction, fabric wear resistance,fabric pilling reduction, extended fabric life, fabric colormaintenance, fabric color fading reduction, reduced dye transfer, fabriccolor restoration, fabric soiling reduction, fabric soil release, fabricshape retention, fabric smoothness enhancement, anti-redeposition ofsoil on fabric, anti-greying of laundry, improved fabric hand/handle,and/or fabric shrinkage reduction.

Examples of conditions (e.g., time, temperature, wash/rinse volumes) forconducting a fabric care method or laundry method herein are disclosedin WO1997/003161 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,661, 4,580,421 and 5,945,394,which are incorporated herein by reference. In other examples, amaterial comprising fabric can be contacted with an aqueous compositionherein: (i) for at least about 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90,100, 110, or 120 minutes; (ii) at a temperature of at least about 10,15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95°C. (e.g., for laundry wash or rinse: a “cold” temperature of about15-30° C., a “warm” temperature of about 30-50° C., a “hot” temperatureof about 50-95° C.); (iii) at a pH of about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11, or 12 (e.g., pH range of about 2-12, or about 3-11); (iv) at a salt(e.g., NaCl) concentration of at least about 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5,3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 wt %; or any combination of (i)-(iv).

The contacting step in a fabric care method or laundry method cancomprise any of washing, soaking, and/or rinsing steps, for example.Contacting a material or fabric in still further embodiments can beperformed by any means known in the art, such as dissolving, mixing,shaking, spraying, treating, immersing, flushing, pouring on or in,combining, painting, coating, applying, affixing to, and/orcommunicating an effective amount of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound herein with the fabric or material. In still furtherembodiments, contacting may be used to treat a fabric to provide asurface substantive effect. As used herein, the term “fabric hand” or“handle” refers to a person's tactile sensory response towards fabricwhich may be physical, physiological, psychological, social or anycombination thereof. In one embodiment, the fabric hand may be measuredusing a PhabrOmeter® System for measuring relative hand value (availablefrom Nu Cybertek, Inc. Davis, Calif.) (American Association of TextileChemists and Colorists (AATCC test method “202-2012, Relative Hand Valueof Textiles: Instrumental Method”)).

In certain embodiments of treating a material comprising fabric, anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan component(s) of the aqueous compositionadsorbs to the fabric. This feature is believed, in part, to renderoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein useful asanti-redeposition agents and/or anti-greying agents in fabric carecompositions (in addition to their soil dispersion effect). Ananti-redeposition agent or anti-greying agent herein helps keep soilfrom redepositing onto clothing in wash water after the soil has beenremoved. It is further contemplated that adsorption of one or moreoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein to a fabric enhancesmechanical properties of the fabric.

Adsorption of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound to a fabricherein can be measured using a colorimetric technique (e.g., Dubois etal., 1956, Anal. Chem. 28:350-356; Zemlji{hacek over (c)} et al., 2006,Lenzinger Berichte 85:68-76; both incorporated herein by reference), forexample, or any other method known in the art.

Other materials that can be contacted in the above treatment methodinclude surfaces that can be treated with a dish detergent (e.g.,automatic dishwashing detergent or hand dish detergent). Examples ofsuch materials include surfaces of dishes, glasses, pots, pans, bakingdishes, utensils and flatware made from ceramic material, china, metal,glass, plastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc.)and wood (collectively referred to herein as “tableware”). Thus, thetreatment method in certain embodiments can be considered a dishwashingmethod or tableware washing method, for example. Examples of conditions(e.g., time, temperature, wash volume) for conducting a dishwashing ortableware washing method herein are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.8,575,083, which is incorporated herein by reference. In other examples,a tableware article can be contacted with an aqueous composition hereinunder a suitable set of conditions such as any of those disclosed abovewith regard to contacting a fabric-comprising material.

Other materials that can be contacted in the above treatment methodinclude oral surfaces such as any soft or hard surface within the oralcavity including surfaces of the tongue, hard and soft palate, buccalmucosa, gums and dental surfaces (e.g., natural tooth or a hard surfaceof artificial dentition such as a crown, cap, filling, bridge, denture,or dental implant). Thus, a treatment method in certain embodiments canbe considered an oral care method or dental care method, for example.Conditions (e.g., time, temperature) for contacting an oral surface withan aqueous composition herein should be suitable for the intendedpurpose of making such contact. Other surfaces that can be contacted ina treatment method also include a surface of the integumentary systemsuch as skin, hair or nails.

Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosed invention concern material(e.g., fabric) that comprises an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compoundherein. Such material can be produced following a material treatmentmethod as disclosed herein, for example. A material may comprise anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound in certain embodiments if thecompound is adsorbed to, or otherwise in contact with, the surface ofthe material.

Certain embodiments of a method of treating a material herein furthercomprise a drying step, in which a material is dried after beingcontacted with the aqueous composition. A drying step can be performeddirectly after the contacting step, or following one or more additionalsteps that might follow the contacting step (e.g., drying of a fabricafter being rinsed, in water for example, following a wash in an aqueouscomposition herein). Drying can be performed by any of several meansknown in the art, such as air drying (e.g., ˜20-25° C.), or at atemperature of at least about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140,160, 170, 175, 180, or 200° C., for example. A material that has beendried herein typically has less than 3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.1 wt % watercomprised therein. Fabric is a preferred material for conducting anoptional drying step.

An aqueous composition used in a treatment method herein can be anyaqueous composition disclosed herein. Thus, the oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan component(s) of an aqueous composition can be any asdisclosed herein. Examples of aqueous compositions include detergents(e.g., laundry detergent or dish detergent) and water-containingdentifrices such as toothpaste.

The disclosed invention also concerns a method for producing an oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compound. This method comprises: contacting polyalpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at least oneN-oxoammonium salt, wherein the poly alpha-1,3-glucan is oxidized by theN-oxoammonium salt thereby producing an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound. The oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced by thismethod can optionally be isolated.

An N-oxoammonium salt in certain embodiments of the method can comprisea TEMPO oxoammonium salt. Examples of such an N-oxoammonium salt includeTEMPO oxoammonium salt itself (structure II) and 4-acetamido-TEMPOoxoammonium salt (structure III). An N-oxoammonium salt herein can be acyclic N-oxoammonium salt, for example. A cyclic N-oxoammonium salt isrepresented by structure VI (above) in certain embodiments. AnN-oxoammonium salt in the disclosed method can be a TEMPO oxoammoniumsalt having a substitution at carbon position 4 (where the N⁺ in thering of the TEMPO oxoammonium salt is position 1).

A TEMPO oxoammonium salt can be provided in the disclosed method, forexample, by oxidizing an agent comprising TEMPO under aqueous conditionsin which a TEMPO oxoammonium salt is contacted with polyalpha-1,3-glucan. An agent comprising TEMPO is an agent/compoundcomprising structure IV. Examples of an agent comprising TEMPO is TEMPOitself (structure IV) and 4-acetamido-TEMPO (structure V). Otherexamples of agents comprising TEMPO can be represented by structure VII(above). Each of these agents can be converted to its correspondingoxoammonium salt, as represented by structure VI, by contacting it withone or more oxidation agents in aqueous conditions. Given that TEMPO andits derivatives, such as above (e.g., 4-acetamido-TEMPO), are examplesof cyclic nitroxyl compounds, a cyclic nitroxyl compound can be used toprovide a TEMPO oxoammonium salt herein.

An agent comprising TEMPO can be oxidized under aqueous conditions ofthe disclosed method to its corresponding oxoammonium salt by contactingthe agent with one or more “oxidation agents” (or “oxidant”). Thiscontacting can be performed under the same aqueous conditions in whichpoly alpha-1,3-glucan is contacted with an N-oxoammonium salt.Typically, a reaction herein for oxidizing poly alpha-1,3-glucan caninitially be prepared to comprise, under aqueous conditions, at leastpoly alpha-1,3-glucan, an agent comprising TEMPO (e.g., structure VII),and one or more oxidation agents. The oxidation agent(s) can convert theagent comprising TEMPO to its corresponding oxoammonium salt (e.g.,structure VI), which in turn oxidizes the poly alpha-1,3-glucan.

Non-limiting examples of an oxidation agent for use in the disclosedmethod include one or more “inorganic oxidation agents” (or “inorganicoxidant”). Examples of oxidation agents that may be used to convert anagent comprising TEMPO to its corresponding oxoammonium salt underaqueous conditions of the method include one or more of a halite (e.g.,a chlorite, such as sodium chlorite [NaClO₂]) or a hypohalite (e.g., ahypochlorite, such as sodium hypochlorite [NaClO]). Other examples ofoxidation agents include one or more of a halide salt such as KCl, KBr,NaCl, NaBr, or NaI; a hypohalite such as NaOBr; metals such as Fe(III),Mn(II), Mn(III), or Cu(II); KMnO₄; Mn(OAc)₃; Mn₂O₃; MnO₂; Mn(NO₃)₂;MgCl₂; Mg(OAc)₂; Cu(NO₃)₂; iodobenzene diacetate [PhI(OAc)₂]; Ca(ClO)₂;t-BuOCl; CuCl—O₂; NaBrO₂; Cl₂; Br₂; and trichloroisocyanuric acid.

Aqueous conditions are used in the disclosed method for oxidizing polyalpha-1,3-glucan. Aqueous conditions in the method refer to a solutionor mixture in which the solvent is at least about 60 wt % water, forexample. Alternatively, aqueous conditions can be at least about 65, 70,75, 80, 85, 90, or 95 wt % water (or any integer value between 60 and 95wt %), for example. Aqueous conditions herein can comprise a buffer,such as an acidic, neutral, or alkaline buffer, at a suitableconcentration and selected based on the pH range provided by the buffer.Examples of buffers include citric acid, acetic acid, KH₂PO₄, CHES andborate.

The aqueous conditions of the method herein can be acidic (e.g., pH of5.5 or less). Alternatively, the pH may be about 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5,4.0, 4.5, 5.0, or 5.5. Acidic conditions can be prepared by any meansknown in the art, such as by adding acetic acid and/or an acetate saltto a solution or mixture. For example, a sodium acetate buffer (acetatebuffer) (pH 4-5) (e.g., 0.2-0.3 M solution) can provide acidicconditions.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be included under aqueous conditions of themethod at about, or at least about, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 wt %, for example. Poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be mixedor dissolved under aqueous conditions before or after an agentcomprising TEMPO and/or an oxidation agent (which converts the agentcomprising TEMPO to its corresponding oxoammonium salt) is added to theaqueous conditions. The oxidation agent in these particular embodimentscan be sodium chlorite and/or sodium hypochlorite, for example.

An agent comprising TEMPO, such as TEMPO and/or 4-acetamido-TEMPO, canbe included under aqueous conditions of the method at about, or at leastabout, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, or 2 wt %, for example. Incertain embodiments, an agent comprising TEMPO can be added to aqueousconditions in which poly alpha-1,3-glucan has already been mixed ordissolved. Such addition may be made before, after, or at the time anoxidation agent is added to the aqueous conditions.

An oxidation agent such as sodium chlorite and/or sodium hypochloritecan be included in aqueous conditions of the method at about, or atleast about, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wt %, for example.In certain embodiments, an oxidation agent(s) can be added to aqueousconditions in which poly alpha-1,3-glucan has already been mixed ordissolved.

Aqueous conditions in certain embodiments of the disclosed method mayinitially contain poly alpha-1,3-glucan, an agent comprising TEMPO(e.g., 4-acetamido-TEMPO), and one or two oxidation agents (e.g., sodiumchlorite and/or sodium hypochlorite) dissolved in a buffer solution(e.g., sodium acetate buffer at a pH of about 4-5). Optionally, noadditional components are included in preparing these particular aqueousconditions. These particular aqueous conditions can be maintained forabout 20-28 hours (e.g., ˜24 hours) at a temperature of about 18° C. toabout 40° C. (e.g., room temperature or ˜35° C.).

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be contacted with at least one N-oxoammoniumsalt under aqueous conditions by mixing, for example. Mixing can beperformed by manual mixing, mixing using an overhead mixer, using amagnetic stir bar, or shaking, for example. Such mixing can be performedduring and/or after adding each of poly alpha-1,3-glucan, an agentcomprising TEMPO, and one or more oxidation agents to the aqueousconditions. As described above, such aqueous conditions allow contactbetween the agent comprising TEMPO and one or more oxidation agents,thereby converting the agent comprising TEMPO to its correspondingN-oxoammonium salt. This N-oxoammonium salt can then contact and oxidizethe poly alpha-1,3-glucan.

The time period for which poly alpha-1,3-glucan is contacted with atleast one N-oxoammonium salt under aqueous conditions can be at leastabout 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, or 48 hours (or anyinteger value between 1 to 48 hours), for example. A reaction can bemaintained for about 20-28 hours (e.g., ˜24 hours) in certainembodiments. The period of time for contacting poly alpha-1,3-glucanwith at least one N-oxoammonium salt under aqueous conditions can bemeasured, for example, from the point of time after each of polyalpha-1,3-glucan, an agent comprising TEMPO, and one or more oxidationagents have been dissolved and/or mixed in the aqueous conditions.

The temperature of aqueous conditions of the disclosed method can beabout 18° C. to about 40° C. (or any integer value between 18 to 40°C.), for example. Aqueous conditions in certain embodiments of themethod can be maintained at a temperature of about 20-25° C. (i.e., roomtemperature) or about 34-36° C. (e.g., ˜35° C.). The temperature ofaqueous conditions can be maintained from the time in which each of polyalpha-1,3-glucan, an agent comprising TEMPO, and one or more oxidationagents have been dissolved and/or mixed under the aqueous conditions,until the reaction is completed. Optionally, the initial aqueousconditions to which each reaction component is added may be at thetemperature held for the reaction.

Optionally, a reaction herein can be maintained under an inert gas, withor without heating. As used herein, the term “inert gas” refers to a gaswhich does not undergo chemical reactions under a set of givenconditions; such as those disclosed for preparing a reaction herein.

Upon completion of an oxidation reaction in which acidic aqueousconditions are used, the pH of the reaction can optionally beneutralized. Neutralization of an acidic reaction can be performed usingone or more bases (e.g., an alkali hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide).The term “neutral pH” as used herein, refers to a pH that is neithersubstantially acidic or basic (e.g., a pH of about 6-8, or about 6.0,6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, 7.0, 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, or 8.0).

An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced in a reaction hereincan optionally be isolated. Such a product may first be precipitatedfrom the aqueous conditions of the reaction. Precipitation can beperformed by adding an excess amount (e.g., at least 2-3 times thevolume of the reaction volume) of an alcohol such as ethanol orisopropanol (e.g., 100% or 95%) to the reaction. A precipitated productcan then be isolated using a filtration funnel, centrifuge, pressfilter, or any other method or equipment known in the art that allowsremoval of liquids from solids. For example, a vacuum filtration may beused to isolate an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan product. The isolatedcompound can be dried using any method known in the art, such as vacuumdrying, air drying, or freeze drying.

An oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced in a reaction hereincan optionally be washed, following precipitation, one or more timeswith a liquid that does not readily dissolve the compound. For example,oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be washed with alcohol, acetone,aromatics, or any combination of these, depending on the solubility ofthe oxidized compound therein (where lack of solubility is desirable forwashing). Oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be washed one or more timeswith an aqueous solution containing methanol or ethanol, for example.For example, 70-95 wt % ethanol can be used to wash the product.

Any of the above oxidation reactions can be repeated using an oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced herein as the starting materialfor further modification.

The structure and molecular weight of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucanproduct can be determined using various physiochemical analyses known inthe art such as NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography(SEC).

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan used in the disclosed method may have at leastabout 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% (or anyinteger between 50% and 100%) glycosidic linkages that are alpha-1,3. Insuch embodiments, accordingly, the poly alpha-1,3-glucan has less thanabout 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or 0% (or any integervalue between 0% and 50%) of glycosidic linkages that are not alpha-1,3.Poly alpha-1,3-glucan in certain preferred embodiments for producing anoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound has at least 90% alpha-1,3glycosidic linkages.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan used in the disclosed method preferably has abackbone that is linear/unbranched. In certain embodiments, the polyalpha-1,3-glucan has no branch points or less than about 10%, 9%, 8%,7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% branch points as a percent of theglycosidic linkages in the polymer. Examples of branch points includealpha-1,6 branch points.

The M_(n) or M_(w) of poly alpha-1,3-glucan used in the disclosed methodmay be at least about 1000. Alternatively, the M_(n) or M_(w) can be atleast about 1000 to about 600000. Alternatively still, the M_(n) orM_(w) can be at least about 10000, 25000, 50000, 75000, 100000, 150000,200000, 250000, 300000, 350000, 400000, 450000, 500000, 550000, or600000 (or any integer between 1000 and 600000), for example.

As disclosed above, poly alpha-1,3-glucan used for preparing oxidizedpoly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds herein can be enzymatically producedfrom sucrose using one or more glucosyltransferase (gtf) enzymes. Thepoly alpha-1,3-glucan product of this enzymatic reaction can be purifiedbefore using it in the disclosed method. Alternatively, a polyalpha-1,3-glucan product of a gtf reaction can be used with little or noprocessing for preparing oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounds.

A poly alpha-1,3-glucan slurry can be used directly in any of the aboveprocesses for producing an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compounddisclosed herein. As used herein, a “poly alpha-1,3-glucan slurry”refers to a mixture comprising the components of a gtf enzymaticreaction. A gtf enzymatic reaction can include, in addition to polyalpha-1,3-glucan itself, various components such as sucrose, one or moregtf enzymes, glucose, fructose, leucrose, buffer, FermaSure®, solubleoligosaccharides, oligosaccharide primers, bacterial enzyme extractcomponents, borates, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, cell lysate,proteins and/or nucleic acids. Minimally, the components of a gtfenzymatic reaction can include, in addition to poly alpha-1,3-glucanitself, sucrose, one or more gtf enzymes, glucose and fructose, forexample. In another example, the components of a gtf enzymatic reactioncan include, in addition to poly alpha-1,3-glucan itself, sucrose, oneor more gtf enzymes, glucose, fructose, leucrose and solubleoligosaccharides (and optionally bacterial enzyme extract components).It should be apparent that poly alpha-1,3-glucan, when in a slurry asdisclosed herein, has not been purified or washed. It should also beapparent that a slurry represents a gtf enzymatic reaction that iscomplete or for which an observable amount of poly alpha-1,3-glucan hasbeen produced, which forms a solid since it is insoluble in the aqueousreaction milieu (has pH of 5-7, for example). A poly alpha-1,3-glucanslurry can be prepared by setting up a gtf reaction as disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 7,000,000 or U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2013/0244288,2013/0244287, or 2014/0087431, for example, all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, a wet cake of poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be used directlyin any of the above processes for producing an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound disclosed herein. A “wet cake of polyalpha-1,3-glucan” as used herein refers to poly alpha-1,3-glucan thathas been separated (e.g., filtered) from a slurry and washed with wateror an aqueous solution. A wet cake can be washed at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,or more times, for example. The poly alpha-1,3-glucan is not dried whenpreparing a wet cake. A wet cake is termed as “wet” given the retentionof water by the washed poly alpha-1,3-glucan.

A wet cake of poly alpha-1,3-glucan can be prepared using any deviceknown in the art for separating solids from liquids, such as a filter orcentrifuge. For example, poly alpha-1,3-glucan solids in a slurry can becollected on a Buchner funnel using a mesh screen over filter paper.Filtered wet cake can be resuspended in water (e.g., deionized water)and filtered one or more times to remove soluble components of theslurry such as sucrose, fructose and leucrose. As another example forpreparing a wet cake, poly alpha-1,3-glucan solids from a slurry can becollected as a pellet via centrifugation, resuspended in water (e.g.,deionized water), and re-pelleted and resuspended one or more additionaltimes.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan herein can optionally be provided in a pre-treatedform prior to being oxidized according to the present disclosure. Anexample of a pre-treated form is poly alpha-1,3-glucan that has beentreated with an oxidizing agent other than those used in embodiments ofthe instantly disclosed subject matter. Thus, poly alpha-1,3-glucan incertain aspects herein can be provided in a pre-oxidized form. It iscontemplated that such pre-oxidized material in certain embodimentswould comprise some amount of intact poly alpha-1,3-glucan polymer thatwas not oxidized. An oxidizing agent for pre-treating polyalpha-1,3-glucan can comprise periodate, such as a metal periodate(e.g., sodium periodate or potassium periodate), for example. Aperiodate can be a meta-periodate (e.g., NalO₄) in some aspects.Conditions for pre-treating (pre-oxidizing) poly alpha-1,3-glucan, suchas with a periodate-comprising agent, can follow conditions as disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,086,969, 6,800,753, 5,747,658 and 6,635,755, forexample, which are all disclosed herein by reference.

Non-limiting examples of compositions and methods disclosed hereininclude:

-   1. A composition comprising an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan    compound, wherein the compound is produced by contacting poly    alpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at least one    N-oxoammonium salt.-   2. The composition of embodiment 1, wherein the poly    alpha-1,3-glucan has at least 90% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages,    and/or a weight-average molecular weight of at least 1000.-   3. The composition of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the N-oxoammonium    salt comprises a TEMPO oxoammonium salt.-   4. The composition of embodiment 3, wherein the N-oxoammonium salt    comprises a 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt.-   5. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the    composition is a household product, personal care product,    industrial product, pharmaceutical product, or food product.-   6. The composition of embodiment 5, wherein the composition is a    detergent composition, and further wherein the composition is    preferably a household product.-   7. A method of producing an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound,    the method comprising:    -   (a) contacting poly alpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions        with at least one N-oxoammonium salt, wherein the poly        alpha-1,3-glucan is oxidized by the N-oxoammonium salt thereby        producing an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound, and    -   (b) optionally, isolating the oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan        compound.-   8. The method of embodiment 7, wherein the poly alpha-1,3-glucan has    at least 90% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and/or a weight-average    molecular weight of at least 1000.-   9. The method of embodiment 7 or 8, wherein the N-oxoammonium salt    comprises a TEMPO oxoammonium salt.-   10. The method of embodiment 9, wherein the N-oxoammonium salt    comprises a 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt.-   11. The method of embodiment 9, wherein the TEMPO oxoammonium salt    is provided by oxidizing an agent comprising TEMPO under the aqueous    conditions.-   12. The method of embodiment 11, wherein the agent comprising TEMPO    is 4-acetamido-TEMPO.-   13. The method of embodiment 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, wherein the    aqueous conditions are acidic.-   14. A method of increasing the builder capacity and/or    anti-redeposition capacity of an aqueous composition, wherein the    method comprises: contacting an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan    compound produced according to the method of any one of embodiments    7-13 with an aqueous composition, wherein the builder and/or    anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition is increased    by the compound compared to the builder and/or anti-redeposition    capacity of the aqueous composition before the contacting step.-   15. A method of treating a material, the method comprising:    contacting a material with an aqueous composition comprising an    oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced according to the    method of any one of embodiments 7-13.

EXAMPLES

The disclosed invention is further defined in the following Examples. Itshould be understood that these Examples, while indicating certainpreferred aspects of the invention, are given by way of illustrationonly. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in theart can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, andwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make variouschanges and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usesand conditions.

Preparation of Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan was prepared using a gtfJ enzyme preparation asdescribed in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2013/0244288, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Example 1 Preparation of Oxidized Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan at ElevatedTemperature

This Example describes oxidizing poly alpha-1,3-glucan at an elevatedtemperature.

1 g of poly alpha-1,3-glucan (M_(w)[weight-average molecularweight]=165,616) was added to 100 mL of sodium acetate buffer (1.64 g ofsodium acetate dissolved in 100 mL of 5% acetic acid and adjusted to pH4.6 using sodium hydroxide) in a 500-mL capacity Erlenmeyer flask fittedwith a thermocouple for temperature monitoring, a rubber stopper, and amagnetic stir bar. Sodium chlorite (0.68 g) and 4-acetamido-TEMPO (0.096g, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) were then added to this preparationand mixed until dissolved. Sodium hypochlorite (0.74 g) was next addedto the preparation, which was then stirred for 24 hours at 35° C. on ahot plate. The reaction was quenched by adding an excess amount (˜5×) ofethanol, thereby precipitating solid oxidized glucan product. The solidthus formed was collected by vacuum filtration, washed with ethanol(95%) four times, and dried under a vacuum at 20-25° C.

Thus, oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan derivative was prepared andisolated from a reaction maintained an elevated temperature.

Example 2 Preparation of Oxidized Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan at RoomTemperature

This Example describes oxidizing poly alpha-1,3-glucan at roomtemperature.

1 g of poly alpha-1,3-glucan (M_(w)=165,616) was added to 100 mL ofsodium acetate buffer (1.64 g of sodium acetate dissolved in 100 mL of5% acetic acid and adjusted to pH 4.6 using sodium hydroxide) in a500-mL capacity Erlenmeyer flask fitted with a thermocouple fortemperature monitoring, a rubber stopper, and a magnetic stir bar.Sodium chlorite (0.68 g) and 4-acetamido-TEMPO (0.096 g) were then addedto this preparation and mixed until dissolved. Sodium hypochlorite (0.74g) was next added to the preparation, which was then stirred for 24hours at room temperature (20-25° C.). The reaction was quenched byadding an excess amount (˜5×) of ethanol, thereby precipitating solidoxidized glucan product. The solid thus formed was collected by vacuumfiltration, washed with ethanol (95%) four times, and dried under avacuum at 20-25° C.

Thus, oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan derivative was prepared andisolated from a reaction maintained at room temperature.

Example 3 Oxidized Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan Has Builder Activity

This Example discloses testing whether oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucanhas builder activity. This activity was determined by measuring thecalcium dispersing capacity of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan materialin aqueous conditions.

Assays were performed to determine the calcium dispersing capacity ofoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan samples. Samples 1 and 2 of oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan (Table 1) were prepared following Example 2, usingstarting material (non-oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan) of M_(w)=˜160000(sample 1) and M_(w)=˜5000 (sample 2). Sample 3 used starting materialof M_(w)=˜5000, which was then subjected to a treatment with sodiumperiodate, followed by a TEMPO treatment. For each assay, oxidizedpolymer product was dissolved into 100 mL of water with stirring using amagnetic stir bar. The exact mass of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan thatdissolved was recorded, after which the pH was adjusted to 8 using 4.5%sodium hydroxide. To this solution, 10 g of 2% sodium carbonate wasadded and the pH was then adjusted to 11 using sodium hydroxide (ifneeded). The turbidity of the solution was measured using a turbiditymeter. A 4.4% calcium acetate solution was titrated into the solutionusing a glass burette, with samples taken out for turbidity measurementsafter each addition. When the percent transmittance of the solutiondecreased, such decrease indicated that the oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan polymer was no longer dispersing the calcium carbonate.The amount of calcium acetate added during the assay was used todetermine the calcium dispersing capacity of the oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan. The calcium dispersing capacity of each sample ofoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan is listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Calcium Dispersing Capacity of Oxidized Poly Alpha-1,3-GlucanCalcium CCDC^(a) of sample Mass (g) Acetate (g calcium Sample Dissolved(mL) carbonate/g polymer) 1 0.0523 0.3 252.4 2 0.3406 0.99 127.9 30.1885 0.85 198.4 ^(a)CCDC, calcium carbonate dispersing capacity.

Each sample of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan exhibited the ability todelay precipitation of calcium carbonate in this assay, therebyindicating that oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan has builder activity.Such builder activity is contemplated to be useful in variousapplications that benefit from the use of a builder, such as in fabriccare compositions.

Example 4 Adsorption of Oxidized Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan on VariousFabrics

This example discloses how one could test the degree of adsorption ofoxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan on different types of fabric.

First, calibration curves are prepared that could be useful fordetermining the relative level of adsorption of oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan onto fabric surfaces.

Solutions of known concentration (ppm) were made using Direct Red 80 andToluidine Blue O dyes. The absorbance of these solutions were measuredusing a LAMOTTE SMART2 Colorimeter at either 520 or 620 nm. Theabsorption information was plotted in order that it can be used todetermine dye concentration of solutions exposed to fabric samples. Theconcentration and absorbance of each calibration curve are provided inTables 2 and 3.

TABLE 2 Direct Red 80 Dye Calibration Curve Data Dye AverageConcentration Absorbance (ppm) @520 nm 25 0.823333333 22.5 0.79666666720 0.666666667 15 0.51 10 0.37 5 0.2

TABLE 3 Toluidine Blue O Dye Calibration Curve Data Dye AverageConcentration Absorbance (ppm) @620 nm 12.5 1.41 10 1.226666667 7 0.88 50.676666667 3 0.44 1 0.166666667These calibration curves may be useful for determining the relativelevel of adsorption of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan on fabricsurfaces, such as by following the below methodology.

0.07 wt % or 0.25 wt % solutions of an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound in deionized water are made. Each solution is divided intoseveral aliquots with different concentrations of compound (Table 4).Other components are added such as acid (dilute hydrochloric acid) orbase (sodium hydroxide) to modify pH, or NaCl salt.

TABLE 4 Oxidized Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan Compound Solutions Useful inFabric Adsorption Studies Amount Polymer of NaCl Amount of ConcentrationFinal (g) Solution (g) (wt %) pH 0 15 0.07 ~7 0.15 14.85 0.0693 ~7 0.314.7 0.0686 ~7 0.45 14.55 0.0679 ~7 0 9.7713 0.0683 ~3 0 9.7724 0.0684~5 0 10.0311 0.0702 ~9 0 9.9057 0.0693 ~11 0 15 0.25 ~7 0.15 14.850.2475 ~7 0.3 14.7 0.245 ~7 0.45 14.55 0.2425 ~7 0 9.8412 0.2459 ~3 09.4965 0.2362 ~5 0 9.518 0.2319 ~9 0 9.8811 0.247 ~11

Four different fabric types (cretonne, polyester, 65:35polyester/cretonne, bleached cotton) are cut into 0.17 g pieces. Eachpiece is placed in a 2-mL well in a 48-well cell culture plate. Eachfabric sample is exposed to 1 mL of each of the above solutions (Table4) (a control solution with no compound is included for each fabrictest). The fabric samples are allowed to sit for at least 30 minutes inthe compound solutions. The fabric samples are removed from the compoundsolutions and rinsed in DI water for at least one minute to remove anyunbound compound. The fabric samples are then dried at 60° C. for atleast 30 minutes until constant dryness is achieved. The fabric samplesare weighed after drying and individually placed in 2-mL wells in aclean 48-well cell culture plate. The fabric samples are then exposed to1 mL of a 250 ppm Direct Red 80 dye solution or a 250 ppm Toluidine Bluedye solution. The samples are left in the dye solution for at least 15minutes. Each fabric sample is removed from the dye solution, afterwhichthe dye solution is diluted 10×.

The absorbance of the diluted solutions is measured compared to acontrol sample. A relative measure of oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound adsorbed to the fabric is calculated based on the calibrationcurve created above for Direct Red 80 and/or Toluidine Blue dye, asappropriate. Specifically, the difference in UV absorbance for thefabric samples exposed to the oxidized compound compared to the controls(fabric not exposed to compound) represents a relative measure ofcompound adsorbed to the fabric. This difference in UV absorbance couldalso be expressed as the amount of dye bound to the fabric (over theamount of dye bound to control), which is calculated using thecalibration curve (i.e., UV absorbance is converted to ppm dye). Apositive value represents the dye amount that is in excess to the dyeamount bound to the control fabric, whereas a negative value representsthe dye amount that is less than the dye amount bound to the controlfabric. A positive value would reflect that the oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound adsorbed to the fabric surface.

It is believed that this assay would demonstrate that oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan can adsorb to various types of fabric under differentsalt and pH conditions. This adsorption would suggest that oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compounds are useful in detergents for fabric care(e.g., as anti-redeposition agents).

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound, wherein said compound is produced bycontacting poly alpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at leastone N-oxoammonium salt.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyalpha-1,3-glucan has at least 90% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and/ora weight-average molecular weight of at least
 1000. 3. The compositionof claim 1, wherein the N-oxoammonium salt comprises a TEMPO oxoammoniumsalt.
 4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the N-oxoammonium saltcomprises a 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt.
 5. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the composition is a household product, personal careproduct, industrial product, pharmaceutical product, or food product. 6.The composition of claim 5, wherein the composition is a detergentcomposition, and further wherein the composition is preferably ahousehold product.
 7. A method of producing an oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound, the method comprising: (a) contacting polyalpha-1,3-glucan under aqueous conditions with at least oneN-oxoammonium salt, wherein the poly alpha-1,3-glucan is oxidized by theN-oxoammonium salt thereby producing an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucancompound, and (b) optionally, isolating the oxidized polyalpha-1,3-glucan compound.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the polyalpha-1,3-glucan has at least 90% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and/ora weight-average molecular weight of at least
 1000. 9. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the N-oxoammonium salt comprises a TEMPO oxoammoniumsalt.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the N-oxoammonium saltcomprises a 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt.
 11. The method of claim9, wherein the TEMPO oxoammonium salt is provided by oxidizing an agentcomprising TEMPO under said aqueous conditions.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the agent comprising TEMPO is 4-acetamido-TEMPO.
 13. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the aqueous conditions are acidic.
 14. Amethod of increasing the builder capacity and/or anti-redepositioncapacity of an aqueous composition, wherein the method comprises:contacting an oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced accordingto the method of claim 7 with an aqueous composition, wherein thebuilder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition isincreased by said compound compared to the builder and/oranti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition before thecontacting step.
 15. A method of treating a material, said methodcomprising: contacting a material with an aqueous composition comprisingan oxidized poly alpha-1,3-glucan compound produced according to themethod of claim 7.